Self-care ability in a group of elderly Swedish people: a phenomenological study

The aims of this study were to describe self-care ability in a group of Swedish elderly and to elucidate the meaning of actualizing this self-care ability into self-care activity. Two different phenomenological methods were applied in the analyses of 11 self-reports written by home dwelling elderly in the community. The eidetic structure of self-care ability was twofold; it entailed, first, being present to the opportunity to act on certain perceived influences on the body and, second, alone or with support from somebody else to be able to bring about a change in attitude towards one's personal lifestyle or life situation. The meaning of actualizing this ability was interpreted as self-realization or self-transcendence.