Mid Sweden University

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine inner strength, defined as connectedness, firmness, flexibility, and creativity, and its relation to mental and physical health in a sample of the oldest old chronically ill women and men living at home.

Methods: A sample of 79 older women and 41 men in the age range of 80–101 years old (mean = 87.5) participated in this study. Inner strength measured by Resilience Scale, Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), Purpose in Life Test (PIL), and Self-Transcendence Test (STS) was viewed in relation to mental and physical health (SF-36 Health Survey).

Results: Experiencing connectedness, firmness, flexibility, and creativity were equal for women and men. SOC, PIL, and STS showed moderate inner strength. Medium and low resilience made the participants feel vulnerable. A significant correlation was observed between the variables for inner strength and mental health for women, men, and the total sample. STS was associated with mental and physical health for the total sample and for women.

Conclusions: Although the oldest old women and men were vulnerable, they had inner strength. Encouraging participation using the inner strength of the oldest old can contribute to strengthen their experiences of independence, integrity, and enjoying life.

Background: Despite worsening health the chroni- cally ill oldest older persons have expressed feelings of inner strength, which can be understood as resil- ience. The objective was to describe and compare the characteristics of resilience in two different age groups of chronically ill oldest older persons living at home and who needed help from home nursing care. Design: Cross-sectional design was used to describe and com- pare the resilience qualities between the two age groups. Methods: The inclusion criteria were 80 years or old- er, living at home with chronic disease, receiving help from home nursing care, and with the capacity to be interviewed. A sample of 120 oldest older women (n = 79) and men (n = 41) separated in two age groups, aged 80 - 89 and 90+ years, participated in the study. Resil- ience characteristics were measured by Resilience Scale. Results: The whole group of oldest older people was vulnerable in relation to the characteristics of persever- ance, self-reliance, and existential aloneness. Despite reduced physical health they reported a meaningful life, and equanimity. Even if there were no significant differences between the age groups among the oldest older persons in the characteristics of Resilience Scale (RS), in the characteristic of meaning there was a ten- dency of interaction between age and how much help from home nursing care the participants received. Con- clusions: It is important to focus on the individual aging and the risk of developing illness and disabilities rather than focusing on chronologic age. Possessing meaning in life and equanimity may be strengths to meet challenges through illness and growing older.

In the past, the study of old age often focused on the losses and problems associated with ageing. In recent times, the focus has been on the positive aspects, such as quality of life, inner strength, and enjoying life. The aims of this study were to highlight the ways in which chronically ill older persons experience the meaning of daily life and to understand what it means to live at home with chronic disease. In-depth interviews were used to illustrate individual experiences. The sample consisted of 13 chronically ill persons, aged 80 to 94 years, living at home and receiving assistance in the form of home nursing care. Data were analyzed using the phenomenological hermeneutical method. After a naïve reading and a structural analysis of the text, we identified three themes: being insufficient, becoming dependent, and enjoying life. The comprehensive understanding suggested that daily life involved bad days, described as illness with dysfunctions, limited energy, and dependency on others. Daily life also had its positive aspects, described as enjoying life. Dignity was threatened by feelings of being a burden to others and was affirmed by experiencing a will to live. It was concluded that bad days with experiences of suffering and good days that provided the older with experiences of enjoying life could help them meet adversity through qualities of resilience that gave meaning to daily life and helped them to think positively in times of greater difficulty.

The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of receivinghelp from home nursing care for the chronically ill, elderly personsliving in their homes. The study was carried out in Norway.Data were collected by narrative interviews, analysed byphenomenological hermeneutic interpretations. Receiving help fromhome nursing care sometimes meant, “Being ill and dependent onhelp”. Other times it meant “Being at the mercy of help”. It couldalso mean, “Feeling inferior as a human being”. Sometimes help wasgiven by nurses who were respectful and proficient at caring for anelderly person, while at other times nurses seemed to be incompetentand worked with a paternalistic attitude without respect for privacy.Receiving help also meant the elderly wanted to be regarded andapproached as equal human beings, supported in the courage tomeet challenges in life.