This need can also be defined as a "need to know," and in fact showing individuals in elder care facilities the respect they deserve by explaining the structure, policies, schedules, and other aspects of care so that individuals know how their world is organized is a surprisingly rare occurrence in many elder care facilities (Huitt 2007; ECO 2010). Providing these simple explanations can fill cognitive needs, as can allowing freedom to pursue ongoing learning through reading and discussion and classes as mentioned above. Some freedom in decorative aspects of private rooms and engagement in art projects, music events, and even simply ensuring that every individual in the care facility has access to music and other entertainment sources that they particularly enjoy will help to fulfill the aesthetic needs of individuals, and this can also have tremendous impacts on some of the lower-level needs of individuals in elder care facilities (ECO 2010). Not only will these efforts assist in the fulfillment of lower-level needs, but they also contribute...

These needs are the must difficult to provide as they require that opportunity for self-contribution be amply available; they are needs that can simply be met by others (Huitt 2007). Self-actualization refers to the ongoing development of personal knowledge, emotional awareness, and self-awareness -- the fulfillment of one's "true" potential, to put it simply (Huitt 2007). Many elder care facilities lose focus on improving the quality of life for their patients, when all that is needed is to respect all individuals as people that are still growing and developing (ECO 2010). Transcendence, in which people assist others in their growth, is achieved through strong community building efforts (ECO 2010; Huitt 2007).
References

ECO. (2010). Elder Care Options. Accessed 9 November 2010. http://www.eldercareoptions.org/

Huitt, W. (2007). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University.…