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Places, social relations and activities in the everyday lives of older adults with psychiatric disabilities: an interview study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2009

M. Nordström ,
A. Dunér ,
E. Olin  and
H. Wijk
M. Nordström
Affiliation:
The Vårdal Institute, The Swedish Institute for Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Social Work, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
A. Dunér*
Affiliation:
The Vårdal Institute, The Swedish Institute for Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Social Work, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
E. Olin
Affiliation:
The Vårdal Institute, The Swedish Institute for Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Social Work, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
H. Wijk
Affiliation:
The Vårdal Institute, The Swedish Institute for Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Institute of Health and Care, Göteborg, Sweden
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Anna Dunér, Department of Social Work, Göteborg University, Box 720, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. Phone: +46 (0)317865720. Email: anna.duner@socwork.gu.se.
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Abstract

Background: Knowledge about the daily life of older adults with psychiatric disabilities is extremely limited, especially from the standpoint of the individual. The overall aim of this study was to describe and analyze the ways in which older adults with a psychiatric disability experience places, social relations and activities in different arenas of their everyday lives.

Method: Twelve older adults (>55 years) with a psychiatric disability were interviewed either once or twice, using different interview techniques. The first interviews were semi-structured and the second were in-depth interviews guided by a site-map. The interview texts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, proceeding from open to focused coding in several steps.

Results: Although the respondents spent most of their time in their own homes, some also spent a lot of time at day-care centers and other similar places. The amount of time spent in places in the public arena varied a great deal. The interviewees' experiences of the places, relationships and activities in their everyday lives can be related to aspects of freedom and coercion, internal and external structure, and relationships and support.

Conclusion: The provision of a varied range of services and support in diverse settings in order to make these accessible to persons of different ages and needs is an important challenge for welfare politics.

Keywords

qualitative studyfreedomcoercionexternal and internal structuresupport
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , April 2009 , pp. 401 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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