Umeå universitets logga

Title: THE ME AND THE WE  - How interests and relations interweaves to form satisfactory social participation in older adults a home care context

Introduction: Loneliness and social isolation are common among older adults in need of home care services. Loneliness constitutes similar health risks as common life style diseases. Social participation have shown to aleviate loneliness, but there are still limited knowledge on the interplay between social participation and loneliness among older adults in a risk group.

Aim: to explore community dwelling older adults’ perceptions and experiences about aspects of loneliness and social participation in a home care context.

Method: The study was conducted in two small municipalities in northern Sweden, using qualitative interviews with seven older adults; five women and two men, over the age of 65 using home care services, in two small municipalitites in northern Sweden. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed with qualitative content analysis.

Result: A satisfctory social participation is affected by personal interests (the ME) and the quality of the social relations (the WE).  As a part of maintaining the ME was fulfilling individual interests and keeping autonomy. As a part of a quality WE, having a circle of significant people, having needs seen and experienceing mutuaility and eqaulity.

Conclusion: Occupational therapists in community care needs to support the individual older adult to identify and find strategies to maintain valued interests and relations.