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South Africans’ experiences of being old and of care and caring in a transitional period
Author(s) -
Bohman Doris M.,
van Wyk Neltjie C.,
Ekman SirkkaLiisa
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of older people nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.707
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1748-3743
pISSN - 1748-3735
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-3743.2010.00225.x
Subject(s) - ethnography , context (archaeology) , qualitative research , participant observation , period (music) , economic shortage , nursing , gerontological nursing , psychology , gerontology , sociology , medicine , geography , social science , anthropology , linguistics , philosophy , physics , archaeology , government (linguistics) , acoustics
bohman d.m., van wyk n.c. & ekman s.‐l. (2011) South Africans’ experiences of being old and of care and caring in a transitional period. International Journal of Older People Nursing 6 , 187–195 doi: 10.1111/j.1748‐3743.2010.00225.x This focused ethnographic study aimed to illuminate a group of South Africans’ experiences of being old and of care and caring in a transitional period. With a growing number of older people in Africa, studies on the individual experiences may help to develop care which is more sensitively based on the needs for older people in a changing Southern Africa context. Data were collected through group and individual in‐depth interviews and participant observations which involved 16 individuals, aged 52–76. Data were analysed using a qualitative content analysis. The study showed two interrelated themes reflections on life and ubuntu – an orientation towards others. Findings were discussed from the viewpoint of the theory of gerotranscendence, showing similarities as well as differences, possibly due to societal and cultural differences. Shortage of formal care for older people living in poor conditions in Southern Africa, gave rise to the discussion for the need of a contextualized development of gerontological care. To enhance knowledge on the theory of gerotranscendence and develop guidelines for nursing in home‐based care/community‐based care in a South African context may be a first step to support older people in their process towards gerotranscendence.