The meaning of home for older women residing alone
Date
1999
Authors
Furness, Wendy Lynn
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Abstract
This phenomenological study explored the meanings of home for four older women who lived alone in an urban dwelling but required assistance from Home Care nursing and / or Long Term Care services to remain there. All the women were Caucasian between the ages of 80 and 91. To gain understanding of the lived-experience of home for each informant, data collection included taped conversational interviews and conscious observation both conducted in the individual's home. Everyone creates the nest they want, home is an expression of self, and home is a place of nurturance and reciprocal support were the three essential themes that were identified from the data. In this paper, each of these themes are presented in detail as they emerged in this research.