A Study on Health as Expanding Consciousness of the Low-income Elderly Living Alone

Shim, Moon Suk

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to explore health experiences of the low-income elderly living alone reflected in Newman's Health as expanding consciousness theory. METHOD: The researcher used Newman's praxis methodology because it is good for showing the process of interaction between the researcher and the low-income elderly living alone.
RESULTS
The significant characteristics of early health experience during a participant's lifetime were demonstrated that blamed themselves, being burden of themselves hopeless of their lives. However, after a turning point in health experience. The health experience of most of the participants evolved as expanding consciousness.
CONCLUSION
This study has provided support for Newman's theory of health. Most of the participants recognized meanings in their patterns and authentic caring relationships with the nurse as researcher, pattern recognition as a nursing practice was a meaningful transforming process in the participant-nurse partnership. This participatory approach expands the scope of sharing health experience with the elderly living alone and with caring community people.