The Life of Elderly Women Living Alone.
10.4040/jkan.2008.38.5.739
- Author:
Chunmi KIM
1
;
Moon Hee KO
;
Moon Jeong KIM
;
Joohyun KIM
;
Hee Ja KIM
;
Jin Ha MOON
;
Kyoung Seon BAEK
;
Haeng Mi SON
;
Sang Eun OH
;
Young Ae LEE
;
Jung Sook CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Yeojoo Institute of Technology, Yeoju, Korea. cmchoi@chollian.net
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Elderly;
Woman;
Qualitative research
- MeSH:
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
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2008;38(5):739-747
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
