Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

On loss of activity and independence, adaptation improves life satisfaction in old age – a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions

  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose was to improve the understanding of factors are perceived by elderly people as important for their life satisfaction, during and after rehabilitation. Fifteen persons aged 80–94 years were interviewed while in hospital and on two follow-up occasions after discharge. Assessment of motor function using the General Motor Function assessment scale was used for descriptive purposes. Three themes emerged as important for life satisfaction: activity, independence and adaptation. Activity and independence were considered significant for life satisfaction. Basic activity preferences were related to care of one’s own body and to social contacts. Control and influence over help and services were regarded as important. Different strategies for adaptation to the consequences of disease were used: reorganisation, interaction with caregivers, mental adaptation and mental activities (used as pastime and escape). Those with declined motor functions limited their activity preferences. A key finding was that pleasant past memories were actively recalled in an effort to achieve current life satisfaction. This adaptation strategy created a sense of life satisfaction, however with a potential risk for concealing dissatisfaction with conditions that might otherwise be correctable. Strategies for improving life satisfaction among old people in rehabilitation are suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. WHO, International Classification of Impairment, Disabilities and Handicaps; A Manual of Classification Relating to the Consequences of Disease. 1980, World Health Organization: Geneva

  2. DF. Cella (1992) ArticleTitleQuality of life: the concept J Palliat Care 8 IssueID3 8–13 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyD2MfhtFM%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. C. O’Boyle (1997) ArticleTitleMeasuring the quality of later life Philos Trans Biol Sci 29 IssueID352(1363) 1871–1879

    Google Scholar 

  4. AW. Musschenga (1997) ArticleTitleThe relation between concepts of quality-of-life, health and happiness J Med Philos 22 IssueID1 11–28 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB2cblslc%3D Occurrence Handle9095459

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. A Lau K. McKenna (2002) ArticleTitlePerception of Quality of Life by Chinese elderly persons with stroke Disabil Rehabil 24 IssueID4 203–218 Occurrence Handle11926261

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. PB Jacobsen K Davis D. Cella (2002) ArticleTitleAssessing quality of life in research and clinical practice Oncology (Huntingt) 16 IssueID9 Suppl 10 133–139

    Google Scholar 

  7. MV Johnston CS. Miklos (2002) ArticleTitleActivity-related quality of life in rehabilitation and traumatic brain injury Arch Phys Med Rehabil 83 IssueID12 Suppl 2 S26–S38 Occurrence Handle12474169

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Heady BWA. Understanding Happiness: A Theory of Subjective Well-being. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire, 1992

  9. GA. Meeberg (1993) ArticleTitleQuality of life: a concept analysis J Adv Nurs 18 IssueID1 32–38 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyC2MrktVE%3D Occurrence Handle8429165

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pavot W. et al. (1991) ArticleTitleFurther validation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale: evidence for the cross-method convergence of well-being measures J Pers Assess 57 IssueID1 149–161 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2D3Mvms1Y%3D Occurrence Handle1920028

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. R. Veenhoven (1996) ArticleTitleDevelopment in satisfaction-research Soc Ind Res 37 IssueID1 1–46

    Google Scholar 

  12. Næsss S. (1989). The concept of quality of life, in S. Björk and J.’Vang, (Eds.) Assessing Quality of Life, Samhall Klintland: Linköping, 1989

  13. S Bogardus E Bradley M. Tinetti (1998) ArticleTitleA taxonomy for goal setting in the care of persons with dementia J Gen Intern Med 13 IssueID10 675–680 Occurrence Handle9798814

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. CL McWilliam et al. (1994) ArticleTitleA new perspective on threatened autonomy in elderly persons: the disempowering process Soc Sci Med 38 IssueID2 327–338 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuC1cfnsFE%3D Occurrence Handle8140459

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. EO Wressle B Henriksson C (1999) ArticleTitleThe rehabilitation process for the geriatric stroke patient–an exploratory study of goal setting and interventions Disabil Rehabil 21 IssueID2 80–87 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M7ksVejtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9990493

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. S.M. Baker et al. (2001) ArticleTitlePatient participation in physical therapy goal setting Phys Ther 81 IssueID5 1118–1126 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3jtFGnuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11319937

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. C Gilleard P. Higgs (1998) ArticleTitleOld people as users and consumers of healthcare: a third age rhetoric for a fourth age reality? Ageing and society 18 133–148

    Google Scholar 

  18. H. Blumer (1998) Symbolic Interactionism-Perspective and Method University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  19. A. Cohen (1994) Self Consciousness: An Alternative Anthropology of Identity Routledge London

    Google Scholar 

  20. M. Hepworth (2000) Stories of Ageing Open University Press Buckingham

    Google Scholar 

  21. R. Melin (2003) On Life Satisfaction and Vocational Rehabilitation Outcome in Sweden. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience Uppsala University Uppsala

    Google Scholar 

  22. HP Wetzler PM. Ellwood (1991) ArticleTitleSuccessful outcomes management Front Health Serv Manage 8 IssueID2 58–61 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2D3sfntVw%3D Occurrence Handle10114428

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. A Sarvimaki B. Stenbock-Hult (2000) ArticleTitleQuality of life in old age described as a sense of well-being, meaning and value J Adv Nurs 32 IssueID4 1025–1033 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mvps1CitA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11095244

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. L Aharony S. Strasser (1993) ArticleTitlePatient satisfaction: what we know about and what we still need to explore Med Care Rev 50 IssueID1 49–79 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyB3szjvFw%3D Occurrence Handle10125117

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. MF Folstein SE Folstein PR. McHugh (1975) ArticleTitle“Mini-mental state” A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician J Psychiatr Res 12 IssueID3 189–198 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSmD2s7mtVE%3D Occurrence Handle1202204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. AC Åberg B Lindmark H. Lithell (2003) ArticleTitleEvaluation and application of the General Motor Function assessment scale in geriatric rehabilitation Disabil Rehabil 25 IssueID7 360–368 Occurrence Handle12745960

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. AC Åberg B Lindmark H. Lithell (2003) ArticleTitleDevelopment and reliability of the General Motor Function Assessment Scale (GMF) – A performance-based measure of function-related dependence, pain and insecurity Disabil Rehabil 25 IssueID9 463–472

    Google Scholar 

  28. PJ. Spradley (1979) The Ethnographic Interview Holt, Rinehart & Winston New York

    Google Scholar 

  29. M Hammersley P. Atkinson (1995) Ethnography. Principles in Practice EditionNumber2 Routledge London

    Google Scholar 

  30. J Ritchie J. Lewis (Eds) (2003) Qualitative Research Practice. A Guide for Social Students and Researchers Sage publications London

    Google Scholar 

  31. WHO (2001) The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, ICF WHO Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  32. R. White (1974) Strategies of adaptation an attempt at systematic description G. Coelho D. Hamburg J. Adams (Eds) Coping and Adaptation Basic books New York 47–68

    Google Scholar 

  33. Thorén-Jönsson AL. Adaptation and Ability in Daily Occupations in People with Poliomyelitis Sequelae, in Department of rehabilitation medicine. Göteborg University: Göteborg, 2000

  34. B. Ellefsen (2002) ArticleTitleDependency as disadvantage - patients’ experiences Scand J Caring Sci 16 IssueID2 157–164 Occurrence Handle12000669

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. NK Leidy JE. Haase (1999) ArticleTitleFunctional status from the patient’s perspective: the challenge of preserving personal integrity Res Nurs Health 22 IssueID1 67–77 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M7is1Sntw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9928965

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. RC. Atchley (1999) Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences J. Hopkins University Press Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  37. K. Davidson (2001) ArticleTitleLate life widowhood, selfishness and new partnership choices: a gendered perspective Ageing Soc 21 IssueID3 297–317

    Google Scholar 

  38. Cohen A, Taylor L. (1992). Free areas, escape routes and identity sites, in Escape Attempts. The Theory and Practice of Resistance to Everyday Life. Routledge, London 112–153

  39. SB. Merriam (1989) ArticleTitleThe structure of simple reminiscence Gerontologist 29 IssueID6 761–767 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BC2M3jvFU%3D Occurrence Handle2620838

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. S Bluck JL. Levine (1998) ArticleTitleReminiscence as autobiographical memory: catalyst for reminiscence theory development Ageing Soc 18 185–208

    Google Scholar 

  41. WJ. Puentes (2001) ArticleTitleCoping styles, stress levels, and the occurrence of spontaneous simple reminiscence in older adult nursing home residents Issues Ment Health Nurs 22 IssueID1 51–61 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD387ltlygtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11885062

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. G Cohen S. Taylor (1998) ArticleTitleReminiscence and Ageing Ageing Soc 18 601–610

    Google Scholar 

  43. WJ. Puentes (2002) ArticleTitleSimple reminiscence: a stress-adaptation model of the phenomenon Issues Ment Health Nurs 23 IssueID5 497–511 Occurrence Handle12079601

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. YC Lin YT Dai SL. Hwang (2003) ArticleTitleThe effect of reminiscence on the elderly population: a systematic review Public Health Nurs 20 IssueID4 297–306 Occurrence Handle12823790

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. RG. Parker (1995) ArticleTitleReminiscence: a continuity theory framework Gerontologist 35 IssueID4 515–525 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymD3cvltVY%3D Occurrence Handle7557522

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. RC. Atchley (1989) ArticleTitleA continuity theory of normal aging Gerontologist 29 IssueID2 183–190 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaA38nhvFU%3D Occurrence Handle2519525

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. GL Albrecht PJ. Devlieger (1999) ArticleTitleThe disability paradox: high quality of life against all odds Soc Sci Med 48 IssueID8 977–988 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1Mzhs12htA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10390038

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Cumming E. Further thoughts on the theory of disengagement. UNESCO - International Social Science Journal 1963; 3: 377–393

  49. BW Lemon VL Bengtson JA. Peterson (1972) ArticleTitleAn exploration of the activity theory of aging: activity types and life satisfaction among in-movers to a retirement community J Gerontol 27 IssueID4 511–523 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSyD3MzhtVc%3D Occurrence Handle5075497

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. C Nygren S Iwarsson O. Dehlin (2000) ArticleTitleExploration of subjective well-being and dependence in daily activities at the beginning of the geriatric rehabilitation process: a challenge to traditional goal-setting and evaluation procedures? Arch Gerontol Geriatr 30 IssueID3 173–184 Occurrence Handle10867161

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Cristina Åberg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Åberg, A.C., Sidenvall, B., Hepworth, M. et al. On loss of activity and independence, adaptation improves life satisfaction in old age – a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions. Qual Life Res 14, 1111–1125 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-2579-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-2579-8

Keywords

Navigation