The purpose of this qualitative descriptive transcultural study was to explore the meaning of retirement for those older people who have lived as performing artists and who are presently sharing communal living at the Casa Verdi di Riposo, Milan, Italy. Parse's nursing theory was the conceptual framework utilized to structure objectives and interview questions. Findings showed that the meaning of retirement for these communally-living retired performing artists is the emerging of an unburdening lightness as esthetic interconnections surface the was and will-be in the now moment as the diversity of everydayness enlivens through communion-solitude while anticipating the transposing vistas of the inevitable prompts treasuring the now in confirming a perpetual artistic legacy. Findings were congruent with Parse's three major themes (meaning, rhythmicity, and transcendence) and support Parse's theory of human becoming, as well as expanding the body of nursing knowledge on the phenomenon of retirement.

Prior to undertaking the exploration of phenomena in a research study with people from different cultures, certain elements must be addressed in order to bridge cultural and linguistic differences. In this article, the authors explore some of these elements, with specific reference to personal experiences in a research study done in Italy, the results of which will not be presented here. Elements discussed include: transcultural/translinguistic literature review, protection of human subjects, translinguistics, maintaining necessary and appropriate contact with persons at the research site, presentation of research to participants, structuring interviews, and post-session amenities.