Health and meaning: a perspective of geriatric Hispanic women

The purpose of this study was to describe the perspectives and identify commonalties of older Hispanic women's meanings of health. Nineteen women ranging in age from 61 to 82 participated. Data included demographic information and the women's answers to seven questions pertaining to health. Qualitative analysis yielded six themes from the data. From this information, nurses can gain knowledge that facilitates a better understanding of older Hispanic women's concepts of health and provide them with information to assist their health care processes. The concepts of cultural care and accommodation are used to increase nurses' understanding of culture's influence in effective patient care.