A Study on the Disability Elderly Who Live in the Community : The Concept Structure of "The Harmonious Life"

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the mental process of elderly people who receive care to find their own "harmonious life" in the community, where they have long lived, affirmatively accepting their daily lives and taking steps toward matured aging. We define this process here as a way to "harmonious life." We have made our study on a total of 11 elderly people aged from 70 to 89 who receive visiting care or home help in their daily lives in Tokyo. Our data is based on the interviews with them, using the content analysis method of Berelson. As a conclusion, we have found that the following four major elements constitute a "harmonious life." They are, "a principle of life to have a happy life," "life adjustment along with aging," "health which secures a sense of self-respect," and "a sense of security by livelihood protection." It is presumed that these four elements, intertwined with each other, make up a process toward matured aging. From our study, we have also found a possibility to newly establish a concrete and individual support strategy in the field of community nursing, incorporating these four major elements into a new nursing support concept.