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Becoming and Being Very Old: a Qualitative Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

C. Laranjeira*
Affiliation:
Piaget Institute, Research in Education and Community Intervention, Viseu, Portugal

Abstract

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Introduction

In almost all Western countries more and more people are living to advanced age. This demographic change will lead to a society with many elderly people that are in good health and good condition and many very old people in poorer conditions and in the need for significant help.

Aim

Understanding the meaning of lived experience of growing very old with respect to losses and gains.

Methods

To reveal the meaning of becoming and being very old, the transcribed interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method.

Results

The transcribed interviews of 15 Portuguese 85-year-old people were analyzed and disclosed growing old as: maintaining one’s identity in spite of the changes that come with aging—that is, being able to balance change with feeling the same. This was based on four themes: balancing weakness and strength, balancing slowness and quickness of time, balancing reconciliation and regret, and balancing connectedness and loneliness.

Conclusions

Growing very old means to be dependent on others, this perhaps leads to frequent encounters with various caring organizations. Attitudes towards aged and aging in nursing are decisive for how the old person is met. Consoling care is to be open and available in the situation when meeting the old person. It is important to see the person behind the mask of aging.

Type
Article: 1450
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2015
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