Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing (대한간호학회지)

Korean Society of Nursing Science (한국간호과학회)
권호 표지

The Life of Elderly Women living Alone

여성 독거노인의 삶

  • Published : 2008.10.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

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.

Keywords

References

  1. Butler, R. (1975). Why service? Growing old America. New York, NY: Harpers and Row
  2. Cox, E. O., & Parsons, R. J. (1994). Empowerment-oriented social work practice with the elderly. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company
  3. Davis, M. A., Neuhause, J. M., Mortis, D. J., & Mark, R. S. (1992). Living arrangements and survival among middle aged and older adults in the NHANES I epidemiologic follow up study. American Journal of Public Health, 82, 401-406 https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.82.3.401
  4. Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y, S. (1985). Effective evaluation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
  5. Hall, J. M., & Stevens, P. E. (1991). Rigor in feminist research. Advanced in Nursing Science, 13, 16-29
  6. Im, C. H., & Jung, O. B. (1988). Supporting attitude type of the married eldest son and his wife living separately, from his parents-intergenerational solidarity. Journal of Korean Home Economics Association, 26, 163-173
  7. Jeon, E. Y., & Kim, K. B. (2006). A study of factors that influence the promotion of healthy behavior in the elderly according to types of residency. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 36, 475-483
  8. Joo, S. S., & Yoon, S. R. (1993). A comparative study on the general health between the couple and single aged. Journal of Korean Gerontological Society, 13, 55-62
  9. Jung, S. D. (2005). The strength model. Paju: Jibmundang
  10. Kim, J. H., & Jung, Y. M. (2002). A study on the health status and quality of life in living alone elderly. Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing, 4, 16-26
  11. Kim, M. H. (2003). Analysis on image of the elderly in "Ohmynews" as internet newspaper. Journal of Gerontology, 23, 13-30
  12. Kim, S. M., Lee, Y. J., & Kim, S. Y. (2003). Attributes considered important for a good death among elderly and adults. Journal of Korean Gerontological Society, 23, 95-110
  13. Kim, T. H., & Jun, K. Y. (1997). A study on the conjugal support, the share of household activities and marital adjustment in old age. Journal of Korean Gerontological Society, 17, 167-182
  14. Kim, T. H., & Kim, S. J. (1996). A study on the solitary between the elderly and their three generations and depression of the elderly. Journal of Korean Gerontological Society, 16, 110-129
  15. Korea National Statistical Office. (2006). Population projections for Korea: 2005- 2050. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from http://kosis.nso.go.kr/ Magazine/PJ/PJ0101.pdf
  16. Lee, J. S. (2005). Qualitative study on the attitude & perception of the living alone aged towards death. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Dongkuk University. Gyeongju
  17. Lee, M. S. (2003). Factors influencing health care needs of solitude elderly. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 33, 812-819
  18. Ministry of Health and Welfare. (2005). The 2004 survey on the living profile and welfare service needs of older persons: Results and policy implications. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from http://www.mw.go.kr/user.tdf
  19. Park, Y. H. (1994). Home care need of the elderly in a county. Unpublished master's thesis, Seoul National University. Seoul
  20. Sim, M, S. (2004). Health experience of low income elderly living alone from the perspective of Newman's praxis methodology. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Chonnam University. Gwangju
  21. Song, M. S., Hah, Y. S., Yu, S. J., & Park, Y. H. (2004) Gerontological nursing. Seoul: Seoul National University Press
  22. Steinbach, U. (1992). Social networks, institutionalization and mortality among elderly people in the United States. Journal of Gerontology, 47, S183-S190
  23. van Maanen, H. M. (2006). Being old does not mean being sick: Perspectives on conditions of health as perceived by British and American elderly. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53, 54-64 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03670.x
  24. van Manen, M. (1997). Researching lived Experience. New York, NY:Sunny Press
  25. van Manen, M. (1998). Modalities of body experience in illness and health. Qualitative Health Research, 8, 7-24 https://doi.org/10.1177/104973239800800102
  26. Worobey, J., & Angel, R. J. (1990). Functional capacity and living arrangement of unmarried elderly persons. Journal of Gerontology, 45, S95-S101
  27. Yang, J. H. (2005). The experience of life experiences among patients with chronic low back and extremity pain. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 35, 955-966