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Seniors' narratives of asking (and not asking) for help after a fall: implications for identity.
- Source :
- Ageing & Society; Feb2016, Vol. 36 Issue 2, p240-258, 19p
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Falls among community-dwelling seniors constitute a major public health concern because of the potential morbidity and mortality associated with the fall. This study examined the informal care networks accessed by Canadian seniors who had visited the Emergency Department as a result of a fall, and considered the implications of the processes of asking for and receiving help on the senior's identity. Four themes were identified. The first was valuing independence. The remaining three themes concerned threats to the participants' identities linked to the need to ask for or receive help from family and friends. They were: becoming indebted, feeling devalued and becoming a burden to others. Seniors were noted to excuse family members from the expectation of helping because of work and family commitments, and illness. Participants described a mutually beneficial relationship with friends wherein both parties valued their independence and provided assistance to the other when needed. Their comments suggested that assistance was viewed as a good to be traded among peers. Our findings indicate that seniors value their independence and may not seek help even when it appears to be available, if asking threatens valued identities. Health and social care practitioners and policy makers responsible for planning and delivery of services should take this into account in order to ensure the best possible care for injured community-dwelling seniors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Subjects :
- ACCIDENTAL falls in old age
FEAR
FRIENDSHIP
HELP-seeking behavior
HOSPITAL emergency services
INTERVIEWING
RESEARCH methodology
METROPOLITAN areas
RESEARCH funding
STATISTICAL sampling
SOCIAL networks
STORYTELLING
TELEPHONES
QUALITATIVE research
ACTIVITIES of daily living
FAMILY relations
SOCIAL support
NARRATIVES
THEMATIC analysis
INDEPENDENT living
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0144686X
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Ageing & Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 112183681
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X14001123