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Helping Each Other: Social Engagement of Elderly Participants in Qualitative Research
Author(s) -
Duggleby Wendy
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-2018.2002.01140_7.x
Subject(s) - qualitative research , gerontology , context (archaeology) , focus group , data collection , psychological intervention , promotion (chess) , psychology , presentation (obstetrics) , population ageing , aging in place , social support , health promotion , medicine , population , nursing , public health , social psychology , sociology , environmental health , paleontology , social science , radiology , politics , anthropology , political science , law , biology
The predominant research focus in aging research has been improved outcomes for the frail elderly. This research focus has made a significant impact on care delivery. Unfortunately, it has also resulted in a negative view of aging focusing on losses and problems. A neglected area of research is with the well elderly. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss issues regarding research with well older adults and examine challenges of conducting research in this population. The context of this discussion is the qualitative research study entitled ‘The Aging Experience of Well Elderly Women’. Elderly women in the United States deal with changes in aging by ‘helping others’. During data collection using focus groups, the social engagement that occurred included ‘helping each other’. This social engagement has implications for future directions of research with the well elderly including data collection, analysis and development of effective interventions for health promotion and disease prevention.