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Occupations and signs of reduced hope: an explorative study of older adults with functional impairments
L Borell1, M Lilja, G A Svidén
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy and Elderly Care Research, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, Doktorsringen 11, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Objective:
The purpose of this explorative study was to uncover and interpret the experiences, values, and meaning of being in daily occupations of older adults with functional impairments.
Method:
Interviews were conducted with 21 older adults with disabilities who were between 70 and 92 years of age. The interviews occurred in their home environments; 18 of the 21 participants lived alone. The interviews were analyzed using a constant comparative approach.
Findings:
Occupational themes related to participation against the odds, retreat from occupation, the need for an invitation from others, and personal meanings related to capacities for occupation were uncovered.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that the loss of positive belief in enjoyable occupations can be a sign of reduced hope in late life. For occupational therapists, whether an older adult has made a conscious choice to withdraw from occupational life or has too few occupational choices is important to distinguish.
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