Making Lemonade Out of Life's Lemons: A View Into the World of Aging With Parkinson's Disease

Pictures can aid in understanding individual perspectives of an experience. Photovoice, a visual elicitation research approach, was used to engage nine participants with Parkinson's disease in taking photographs that, for them, represented important aspects of living with the disease. Participants' descriptions of their photographs revealed perspectives that can be theoretically linked to two psychosocial stages of development: (a) generativity versus stagnation and (b) integrity versus despair. Clear examples of generativity and integrity were present in participants' responses, reflecting determination and optimism in living with the disease. Findings highlight the need to seek understanding of patients' individual experiences of living with an illness so it is not falsely assumed that they are not adjusting or managing their disease.