J Korean Acad Nurs.  2008 Oct;38(5):739-747. 10.4040/jkan.2008.38.5.739.

The Life of Elderly Women Living Alone

• Kim C
• Ko MH
• Kim MJ
• Kim J
• Kim HJ
• Moon JH
• Baek KS
• Son HM
• Oh SE
• Lee YA
• Choi JS

• KMID: 1125540
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.5.739

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to uncover the fundamental nature of living alone in female elderly.
METHODS
The phenomenological research approach developed by van Manen was adopted.
RESULTS
The theme was 'taking a firm stand alone on the edges of life'. The composition elements of living alone experienced by elderly women were as follows: 1) Corporeality: participants perceived their bodies by their health status. Unhealthy participants were suffering with diseases and dependant on other persons, while healthy participants were free from family responsibility and kept on moving. 2) Spatiality: participants felt both freedom and loneliness while they stayed home. 3) Relationality: participants felt pity and yearning for their bereaved husband and sometimes talked to his picture. According to their children's filial piety, participants were pleased or displeased. However, they incessantly devoted themselves to their children. 4) Temporality: participants considered the rest of their life as extra-time which was proceeding to death, and tried to keep themselves busy before they died.
CONCLUSION
A nurse should understand the multifarious aspects of elderly women's life, and then intervene to consolidate their strengths for self-supporting the final years of life.

Keyword

Elderly; Woman; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Attitude to Death
Family
Female
Health Status
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Life Style
Loneliness
*Quality of Life
Widowhood/*psychology

Reference

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