Peace of mind as an important aspect of old people's health

The purpose of this study was to investigate what concept of health was relevant for old people. Interviews were made with men and women aged over 60, institutionalised for somatic long-term care. Data were gathered in unstructured interviews and analysed by means of the ethnonursing method. The interviewees' descriptions of health were arranged as a concept model, consisting of three hierarchical levels. The first level dealt with the possibility of living a fairly comfortable life. The second level was concerned with positive self-esteem and the third and most crucial one described the existence or non-existence of a mental state of mind defined as peace of mind. The results were compared with existing health definitions and psychological/philosophical theories. The conclusion was that health definitions stressing physical, mental, and social perfection were not relevant for old people, whereas multidimensional health models such as those of Eriksson and Smith appeared to be adequate measures in planning for old people. The comparison with Homburger Erikson's theory and with existentialism revealed many corresponding traits, which might explain some of the differences between the patients and might also give the hope of a possibility of adequate nursing support. Religion was no discriminating factor in this material. As the third level was presented as the most important one and nursing support seemed possible, further investigations were suggested.