**3.4 Environment and personal independence**

One of the most neglected and fundamental factors in the geriatric population is the environment, which can exponentially increase the physical possibilities of the user or increase their inability to carry out an activity, reducing their personal autonomy, a key factor in this population.

**Figure 5.** *Interaction of Social Participation and Emotional Well-being. (extracted from [16, 32]).*

On many occasions these impossibilities are developed due to the individual's life situation, acting as a barrier to normalized functioning. These excessive incapacities can become real incapacities, weakening the person and accelerating their physiological decline.

A study by Summers allows us to know through non-pathological factors how the role of a psychologist can be decisive in the intervention of functional impairments in the last part of life [27]. This study concluded that the psychological state of the person is a predictor of the degree of disability that the person experiences, taking into account [28].

On the other hand, Rodin [29] in a residential care home for older people carried out a randomized working group distribution based on power of choice and opportunities at a conference. After the conference they were encouraged to accept responsibilities, planning tasks, maintenance of facilities, etc. The other participating group was encouraged to attend talks on attitude, personal assistance, care and personal hygiene.

The results showed that the first group as opposed to the second developed signs of happiness, increased activity, responsiveness, stress reduction, as well as more commitment to the activities offered at the center itself.

If we look at other types of studies such as the one developed by Cummings [30], the passage of age implies a progressive disconnection from the social group, distancing oneself from society and coming to see oneself as a natural part of the ageing process [31] (**Figure 5**).
