Relational experiences of elderly women living alone in rural communities: a phenomenologic inquiry

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to develop a beginning description of the relational experiences of elderly women living alone in rural communities. Relational theories provided the conceptual framework. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews of 8 elderly Caucasian women. Using Colaizzi's (1978) descriptive phenomenologic methodology, two central themes emerged from the written transcripts: connectedness and the need for control. Connections were to family, friends, the community, and God. The women in this study controlled their relational boundaries, balancing their need for connection with the desire for solitude and privacy. The women also exhibited strong independence and the desire to continue to live alone at home.