Experiences of home as an aspect of well‐being in people over 80 years: A mixed method study

Abstract

Aims:To (1) describe experiences of home from a well-being perspective, (2) describe participant characteristics and well-being measures in relation to housing type (3) and how the aforementioned aspects may affect well-being in very old persons.Design: Cross-sectional, convergent parallel-results mixed method design with semistructured interviews analysed by qualitative content analysis, in relation to descriptive statistics and specific well-being outcome measures related to home.Methods: A total of 50 persons 80 years or older living in ordinary housing were interviewed (July 2017 to November 2018) about home in relation to well-being, along with collection of participant characteristics and well-being measures related to home.Results: Participants described how home had become increasingly important as it provided autonomy and acted as a social and occupational hub. However, autonomy was not unconditional, and home could also be perceived as a place of inactive solitude. Results were interpreted as relating to being in the margins of home and had a major impact on well-being. Housing type seemed of importance with higher measures of well-being for participants in single-living housing compared with those living in apartment. Conclusion:Home is increasingly central to well-being in old age; however, very old persons also have to relate to being physically and mentally in the margins of being able to remain in the home. These aspects of home potentially have a major impact on well-being.Impact: As very old persons living in ordinary housing will constitute a larger segment of society in coming years, aspects of home can potentially have a considerable impact on well-being for this age-group. This study describes aspects of home that contribute to, or has adverse impact on well-being. These aspects need thorough consideration in policy-making and planning of health care that can affect experiences of home.

Exploring the meaning of a good life for older widows with extensive need of care: a qualitative in-home interview study

“…The role of home for older persons is described as influencing well-being (A. D. Almevall et al, 2022 ) self-worth (Søvde et al, 2022 ) and overall sense of a good life (Galvin & Todres, 2011 ; Oswald & Wahl, 2005 ). The women in this study positioned the day within the home at the core of their experiences.…”

“…Home plays a pivotal role in the well-being of older individuals, encompassing physical, personal and social dimensions (A. D. Almevall et al, 2022 ; Felix et al, 2015 ; Vasunilashorn et al, 2012 ). Beyond its physical attributes, a satisfying living environment for older persons requires careful consideration of safety, access to services, social connections and opportunities for stimulation (Finlay et al, 2020 ).…”

Older Adults’ Experiences of Using Strategies to Maintain and Foster Social Participation: A Systematic Review with Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies

“…In addition, the fndings suggest that for perceiving social participation, it is important for older adults to create routines or patterns of activities of their own choice to be able to engage in these activities satisfactorily. Previous research has shown that it is important for perceiving health and social participation to have the ability to make and act upon own choices [71].…”

Self-care management and experiences of using telemonitoring as support when living with hypertension or heart failure: A descriptive qualitative study

“…The patients’ ambivalent experience of enhanced autonomy and self-care management, coupled with the sensation of insecurity and alienation when incorporating healthcare technology into their home, has also been demonstrated in other studies ( Lindberg et al., 2021 ; Sundgren et al., 2020 ). As exemplified by Almevall et al. (2022) , the home is central to the well-being of older adults.…”