Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the concept of spirituality in the well elderly, their perceived ideas, needs and concerns. Research in this area had been in the neophyte stage as the emphasis had been primarily on the hospitalized elderly. The more one understands the lived experience of the healthy elderly the better professionals are equipped to provide for the total needs of the individual. Adding to this body of knowledge would enable faculty to better prepare nurses for the assessmnent and intervention of this need in the healthy elderly, an aggregate of growing numbers in the population.
Methods: Qualitative research methodology was used to explore the meaning of spirituality for the well elderly living within a community setting. The subjects were twenty six individuals, ages 65 to 85 living independently in either Southern California or the New York Metropolitan area. Participants were provided information regarding the study and signed concents obtained prior to participation. Nine open-ended questions were used during the face-to-face interview. Each interview was recorded and the resulting transcrips provided the data for analysis.
Results: The analysis of the data identified 9 patterns/themes associated with the concept of spirituality for the well elderly living independently.
Conclusion: Data from this research suggested that there may be certain patterns/themes which are more universal then previously thought. Further research to expand the undertsanding of this concept is needed as the patterns/themes identified can not be generalized to the larger population at this time. The information gained from this research has added to an existing body of knowledge integral to the nursing curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Sigma Membership
Unknown
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Elderly, Spirituality
Recommended Citation
Molinatti, Joseph, "The significance of spirituality in the well elderly" (2012). INRC (Congress). 225.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2012/presentations_2012/225
Conference Name
23rd International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Brisbane, Australia
Conference Year
2012
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
The significance of spirituality in the well elderly
Brisbane, Australia
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the concept of spirituality in the well elderly, their perceived ideas, needs and concerns. Research in this area had been in the neophyte stage as the emphasis had been primarily on the hospitalized elderly. The more one understands the lived experience of the healthy elderly the better professionals are equipped to provide for the total needs of the individual. Adding to this body of knowledge would enable faculty to better prepare nurses for the assessmnent and intervention of this need in the healthy elderly, an aggregate of growing numbers in the population.
Methods: Qualitative research methodology was used to explore the meaning of spirituality for the well elderly living within a community setting. The subjects were twenty six individuals, ages 65 to 85 living independently in either Southern California or the New York Metropolitan area. Participants were provided information regarding the study and signed concents obtained prior to participation. Nine open-ended questions were used during the face-to-face interview. Each interview was recorded and the resulting transcrips provided the data for analysis.
Results: The analysis of the data identified 9 patterns/themes associated with the concept of spirituality for the well elderly living independently.
Conclusion: Data from this research suggested that there may be certain patterns/themes which are more universal then previously thought. Further research to expand the undertsanding of this concept is needed as the patterns/themes identified can not be generalized to the larger population at this time. The information gained from this research has added to an existing body of knowledge integral to the nursing curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.