Being acknowledged by others and bracketing negative thoughts and feelings: Frail older people's narrations of how existential loneliness is eased

Abstract

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to describe how EL was eased, as narrated by frail older people. Background Existential loneliness (EL) is an unavoidable part of the human condition. It is a complex phenomenon that has been described as disconnection from life. If EL is acknowledged in the care of older people, the experience of EL can be reduced. Design In this qualitative study, we used an exploratory and descriptive design. Methods The study was based on 22 narrative interviews with frail older people, 76 to 101 years old, who were receiving long‐term care and services. We analysed the data using conventional content analysis. Results Being acknowledged by others, that is, being the focus of others' concern, eased the experience of EL, as did encountering intimacy and having meaningful exchanges of thoughts and feelings. Further, EL was pushed into the background and eased when participants could bracket negative thoughts and feelings, that is, when they could adjust and accept the present situation, view life in the rear‐view mirror, be in contact with spiritual dimensions and withdraw and distract themselves. Conclusion Existential loneliness can be eased by experiencing meaningful togetherness with others and oneself when something else comes to the forefront, pushing EL to the background. Frail older peoples' opportunities to ease EL may be facilitated by health care staff (HCS) providing person‐centred care and create possibilities for solitary time and meaningful togetherness. Implications for practice If frail older people's ongoing processes of adjusting and accepting their situation are understood and confirmed by people in their environment, for example, by nurses, family and friends, the experience of living a meaningful life can be supported, which, in turn, can ease EL.

Overcoming existential loneliness: a cross cultural study

“…Their narratives conveyed a felt gap between meaningless life they now experienced and the sense of 'fullness' they craved in the past. These experiences are consistent with EL arising from an emptiness and disconnected with actual life of the frail elderly, advanced cancer patients, dying persons and terminally ill patients [37][38][39]. However, unlike Kitzmüller et al (2018) review, both Chinese and Swedish older adults in our study made the distinction of "overcoming" rather than "being trapped", (whether the older adults were male or female), though they also depicted EL as a devasting condition connected with negative emotions (i.e., hopelessness, losses, meaningless, see no purpose in life and no value in continuing to live [36].…”

Qualitative study of loneliness in a senior housing community: the importance of wisdom and other coping strategies

“…Specifically, loneliness is defined as subjective distress resulting from a discrepancy between desired and actual relationships (Ernst & Cacioppo, 1999), while social isolation is the objective lack of social contacts and interactions (Cornwell & Waite, 2009;Gardner, Brooke, Ozanne, & Kendig, 1999). Loneliness may be modifiable, and person-focused interventions are an important but underdeveloped approach (Perissinotto, Holt-Lunstad, Periyakoil, & Covinsky, 2019) Several published papers have focused on the qualitative experience of loneliness among overseas or immigrant populations (Wong, Chau, Fang, & Woo, 2017), medically ill persons (Drageset, Eide, Dysvik, Furnes, & Hauge, 2015;Sj€ oberg, Edberg, Rasmussen, & Beck, 2019), and people at highest risk for loneliness (Neves, Sanders, & Kokanovi c, 2019). However, there is little published literature on qualitative studies of loneliness among independent living older adults in the community.…”

Attributes of person‐centred communication: A qualitative exploration of communication with older persons in home health care

“…Previous research in home healthcare has indicated challenges related to communication as well as ethical concerns (Choe et al, ; Sundler, Eide, Dulmen, & Holmström, ). Some challenges are related to older persons’ autonomy and fragility, as well as to existential concerns and emotional needs (Fjordside & Morville, ; Sjöberg, Edberg, Rasmussen, & Beck, ). Additionally, older persons may express their emotions and needs vaguely, and as such, they can be difficult to detect (Sundler et al, ).…”