Calibrating and adjusting expectations in life: A grounded theory on how elderly persons with somatic health problems maintain control and balance in life and optimize well-being

Abstract

AimThis study aims at exploring the main concern for elderly individuals with somatic health problems and what they do to manage this.MethodIn total, 14 individuals (mean=74.2 years; range=68–86 years) of both gender including hospitalized and outpatient persons participated in the study. Open interviews were conducted and analyzed according to grounded theory, an inductive theory-generating method.ResultsThe main concern for the elderly individuals with somatic health problems was identified as their striving to maintain control and balance in life. The analysis ended up in a substantive theory explaining how elderly individuals with somatic disease were calibrating and adjusting their expectations in life in order to adapt to their reduced energy level, health problems, and aging. By adjusting the expectations to their actual abilities, the elderly can maintain a sense of that they still have the control over their lives and create stability. The ongoing adjustment process is facilitated by different strategies and result despite lower expectations in subjective well-being. The facilitating strategies are utilizing the network of important others, enjoying cultural heritage, being occupied with interests, having a mission to fulfill, improving the situation by limiting boundaries and, finally, creating meaning in everyday life. ConclusionThe main concern of the elderly with somatic health problems was to maintain control and balance in life. The emerging theory explains how elderly people with somatic health problems calibrate their expectations of life in order to adjust to reduced energy, health problems, and aging. This process is facilitated by different strategies and result despite lower expectation in subjective well-being.

A comparison of life satisfaction in elderly medical inpatients and the elderly in a population-based study: Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 3

“…Living with someone (either spouse/cohabitant or their family), and having friends who could help when needed, reduced the risk of being dissatisfied compared to that of those living alone and without the opportunity of getting help from friends. The present results are supported by studies focusing on how good family relations are associated with wellbeing and the QOL in the elderly with somatic health problems [24,25]. Furthermore, adjusting the regression analysis for participation in activities did not reduce the risk of being dissatisfied in the hospital sample.…”

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“It made me feel human”—a phenomenological study of older patients’ experiences of participating in a team meeting

“…The family, a cat or engagement in social activities are examples of life projects described by the patients. Holding on to interests and having a mission to fulfill can offer rest in a difficult situation (Helvik, Cabral Iversen, Steiring, & Hallberg, 2011), create health and well-being (Dahlberg et al, 2009) and as a result indicates that maintaining life projects is one way of reducing vulnerability.…”