Shifting between self-governing and being governed: a qualitative study of older persons’ self-determination


Older persons’right to exercise self-determination in daily life is supported by several laws. Research shows that older persons’self-determination is not fully respected within the healthcare sector.

In order to enable and enhance older persons’self-determination, extensive knowledge of older persons’self-determination is needed. The aim of this study was to explore experiences of self-determination when developing dependence in daily activities among community-dwelling persons 80 years and older.

Methods:
Qualitative interviews were performed in accordance with a grounded theory method, with 11 persons aged 84-95 years who were beginning to develop dependence in daily activities.

Results:
The data analysis revealed the core category, “Self-determination – shifting between self-governing and being governed”.

The core category comprised three categories: “Struggling against the aging body”, “Decision-making is relational”, and “Guarding one’s own independence”. Self-determination in daily activities was related to a shifting, which was two-fold, and varied between self-governing and being governed by the aging body, or by others.

Conclusions:
The findings imply a need to adopt a person-centered approach where the older persons’own preferences and needs are in focus, in order to enhance their possibilities to exercise self-determination.

Author: Isabelle Ottenvall HammarSynneve Dahlin-IvanoffKatarina WilhelmsonKajsa Eklund
Credits/Source: BMC Geriatrics 2014, 14:126

Published on: 2014-11-28

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News Provider: 7thSpace Interactive / EUPB Press Office

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