Women growing older with environmental sensitivities: A grounded theory model of meeting one's needs

This article describes a telephone interview study of 21 women over the age of 65 with environmental sensitivities (ES), including both chemical and electrical hypersensitivities. We employed Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory, using incident, focused, and theoretical coding levels. We were interested in how informants thought their needs would be met as they grew older with ES. We found a central process (that which motivates informants) of "balancing on a changing tightrope with great overwhelm" with three categories: No Safety Net, The Knowing, and Going Through the Cracks. No Safety Net refers to the inaccessibility of most community and health resources for persons who must avoid chemicals, electromagnetic fields, or both. The Knowing refers to having the awareness that one has been dealt out of the equation and will not receive help from conventional sources. Going Through the Cracks describes living one's life by finding small openings and opportunities for living and experiencing what most take for granted. We describe these categories in detail and appeal to health care providers and the general public to view culture through the eyes of those who are unable to participate in it to an extent considered "normal."