tailieunhanh - Coping with ageing and failing health: A qualitative study among elderly living alone

A third group of experiments explored possible differences in willingness to pay and willingness to accept. In these experiments, the choices involved valuations of everyday objects (. a coffee mug). It has been suggested that observed differences are due to an asymmetry of preferences between losses and gains that might be exacerbated by age. Finally, both younger and older subjects participated in beauty contest games, in which strategic thinking plays a central role. In each case, the experiments were taken from the literature allowing us to focus on age differences rather than on theories behind the experiments | 1 Coping with ageing and failing health A qualitative study among elderly living alone Arvid Birkeland forstelektor Hogskolen Stord Haugesund Gerd Karin Natvig forsteamanuensis Hogskolen Stord Haugesund Publisert i International Journal of Nursing Practice 2009 15 257-264 Abstract The purpose of this study was to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how elderly cope with being sick unhealthy and living alone. Qualitative research interviews using a hermeneutic approach was undertaken to explore how the patients experienced coping with their daily life. Twenty patients with an average age of 82 years having different injuries and diseases were interviewed. The interviews were audiotaped transcribed and analysed in a hermeneutical tradition of the hermeneutic circle part - whole preunderstanding - understanding and primary secondary and basic themes. Findings showed that even if physical constraints put limits on their level of activity the elderly were able to adapt and carry out different activities that did not require any physical strength. The main coping strategy was to accept the situation but the acceptance was often colored by a resigned and passive acceptance. If elderly tend to be passive and resigned it can be necessary for the community nurses to have a more active problem-solving approach to these patients in order to help them creating a daily rhythm with which they can feel comfortable. Keywords Elderly coping disabled home nursing care. Introduction The number of aging people in Norway has increased gradually forward to 1990. From 2010 there will be a new increase from 600000 to approximately 1 1 million in 2045 1 . Europe has approximately the same proportional increase even if some countries have a greater increase than others 2 . Many of these elderly people live alone with different types of dysfunctions and some receive help from home nursing care. Some studies show that it s important for elderly people to live in their own home as it .