Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study
Introduction Studies of older women’s life transitions is rare but gains relevance as the aging population, with older women as the majority, expands. Purpose To explore the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive home care needs. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2322757 |
| _version_ | 1797270663073890304 |
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| author | Ariel Almevall Päivi Juuso Catharina Melander Karin Zingmark |
| author_facet | Ariel Almevall Päivi Juuso Catharina Melander Karin Zingmark |
| author_sort | Ariel Almevall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Studies of older women’s life transitions is rare but gains relevance as the aging population, with older women as the majority, expands. Purpose To explore the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive home care needs. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews were carried out with eleven women, aged 80 and over (82–95 years, mean 90) residing at home with extensive care needs (≥4 daily sessions, averaging 2.5–6 hours, mean 3). Data were analysed by reflexive thematic analysis. Results The theme “This Day in My Home, the frame of my life” reflects the women’s experience of a good life. A good day imbued them with hope, trust and security, carrying them forward with the assurance that night would usher in a new day. However, there were moments when life was merely about navigating daily challenges. During such days, the women felt trapped in time, unsafe and lonely. Conclusion A day at home may seem static, yet it mirrors life’s dynamism, evolving with shifting circumstances. Older widows navigate challenges while maintaining their sense of self, independence, and connection to home. These findings have implications for aged care, recognizing the multifaceted aspects of life and the centrality of home. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T02:07:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f30869cd4be44c109d2d0a6af2165473 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T02:07:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-f30869cd4be44c109d2d0a6af21654732024-03-07T14:28:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312024-12-0119110.1080/17482631.2024.23227572322757Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview studyAriel Almevall0Päivi Juuso1Catharina Melander2Karin Zingmark3Luleå University of TechnologyLuleå University of TechnologyLuleå University of TechnologyLuleå University of TechnologyIntroduction Studies of older women’s life transitions is rare but gains relevance as the aging population, with older women as the majority, expands. Purpose To explore the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive home care needs. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews were carried out with eleven women, aged 80 and over (82–95 years, mean 90) residing at home with extensive care needs (≥4 daily sessions, averaging 2.5–6 hours, mean 3). Data were analysed by reflexive thematic analysis. Results The theme “This Day in My Home, the frame of my life” reflects the women’s experience of a good life. A good day imbued them with hope, trust and security, carrying them forward with the assurance that night would usher in a new day. However, there were moments when life was merely about navigating daily challenges. During such days, the women felt trapped in time, unsafe and lonely. Conclusion A day at home may seem static, yet it mirrors life’s dynamism, evolving with shifting circumstances. Older widows navigate challenges while maintaining their sense of self, independence, and connection to home. These findings have implications for aged care, recognizing the multifaceted aspects of life and the centrality of home.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2322757aged 80 and overindependent livingnursing carewomen’s healththematic analysisaginghome care serviceslife change eventshome health nursingwidowhoodqualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Ariel Almevall Päivi Juuso Catharina Melander Karin Zingmark Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being aged 80 and over independent living nursing care women’s health thematic analysis aging home care services life change events home health nursing widowhood qualitative research |
| title | Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study |
| title_full | Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study |
| title_short | Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study |
| title_sort | exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care a qualitative in home interview study |
| topic | aged 80 and over independent living nursing care women’s health thematic analysis aging home care services life change events home health nursing widowhood qualitative research |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2322757 |
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