Åsa Larsson

Doing everyday life—experiences of the oldest old

The purpose of this article is to explore how a group of elderly people, living and managing on their own, describe and experience their everyday doings. Interviews and observations were conducted with 18 community-living people aged 85 and above. The experiences of ‘Doing everyday life’ are described in five overarching themes: ‘Experiencing being old’, ‘Doings in everyday life’, ‘Patterns of the day’, ‘Altered doings’, and ‘The importance of time’. What is done during an ordinary day does not differ much from earlier in life, but how the doings are performed has changed. Being occupied and staying healthy and sound in mind was stressed as important in old age and even if reduced energy and functional constraints limited the doings, a strong volition to manage independently was expressed. The participants perceived society as regarding the elderly as useless and worthless. Knowledge emanating from the very old themselves is vital to diversify the image of elderly people and to offer interventions and support adapted to their needs and desires.

A review of research with elderly people as respondents reported in occupational therapy journals

The aim of this article is to review research presented in occupational therapy journals with the elderly as respondents. With an increasing number of elderly people in society research including the elderly should play a vital role within occupational therapy especially since emphasis on subjective experience is an important factor in the core constructs of occupation. Through a review of six occupational therapy journals, covering the period 2001–2006, it was discovered that 15% of the total number of articles included the elderly as respondents. The published articles with the elderly as respondents were mainly quantitative with the most frequent subject being instrument developing and testing. Most studies had a population group of mixed ages, making it hard to draw conclusions concerning the elderly population. The conclusion is that more research of a qualitative nature reflecting the subjective perspectives of the elderly is needed, especially regarding the oldest age group since this is the fastest growing and there is still limited knowledge regarding their perspective on matters concerning their everyday lives and their doings. Technological developments are implied to benefit elderly people but more research and discussion is needed on how this will affect both the elderly and occupational therapy theory and practice.