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The meal as a gift : the meaning of cooking among retired women

The aim of this qualitative interview study was to delineate the meaning of preparing, cooking, and serving meals among retired single living and cohabiting women. Sixty-three women living in two Swedish cities and their rural surroundings participated. The findings showed that the profound meaning was to do something for others. The whole procedure of preparing a meal could be seen as preparing a gift. Four phases were identified: finding out what to serve, cooking with fresh ingredients, presenting the gift in a beautiful manner, and enjoying the gift in commensality. Cohabiting women went on cooking with duty and joy as they had done before retirement as long as their power was maintained. For widows, especially those who had recently lost their spouse, the whole meaning of cooking and eating was lost, and among these women there is a risk of poor nutritional intake.

Managing food shopping and cooking : The experiences of older Swedish women

The aim of the research reported in this paper was to study older Swedish womens experiences of managing food shopping and cooking as part of an independent life in different family situations. The research approach was qualitative, using informal ethnographic interviews and thematic analysis. Twenty-three single-living and 18 cohabiting Swedish women, aged 64–67, 74–77 and 84–87, participated. They valued being active through continuing with familiar routines whereby they could live independently. They gained physical exercise and social contacts when they went shopping. Well-known foods and traditional dishes were preferred as they enabled them to proceed from familiar routines. Economical thinking related to money and their own work guided their choice of food. Lack of strength made some, particularly the older informants and those living alone, dependent on local shops, and they simplified their cooking, while others had more freedom of choice when they shopped together with their husbands. The implications of the research for services which help older women, particularly those who live alone or who have been recently bereaved, are discussed.

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

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.

School-aged children’s experiences of postoperative music medicine on pain, distress and anxiety

Aim:  To test whether postoperative music listening reduces morphine consumption and influence pain, distress, and anxiety after day surgery and to describe the experience of postoperative music listening in school‐aged children who had undergone day surgery.

Continuity of the Self in Later Life: Perceptions of Informal Caregivers

The authors explore perceptions of informal caregivers of extremely elderly (80+) relatives or friends regarding the purpose of caregiving, including factors they considered important for the life satisfaction of the care recipients. They collected data mainly through qualitative interviewed and employed symbolic interactionism. The results revealed a general purpose of the informal caregiving: protection of the care recipient’s self. This purpose was a significant aspect of the identified caregiving categories—social-emotional, proxy, and instrumental care—and the authors consider all four factors important for the care recipients’ life satisfaction: activity, independence, and environmental and adaptive factors. Some informal caregivers gave forceful encouragement to care recipients in an attempt to get them to accept formal care and move to sheltered accommodation. This study underscores the value of informal caregiving and that the caregiving interaction should be balanced by reciprocity.

Food Habits and Foodwork : The Life Course Perspective of Senior Europeans.

Abstract In this cross-cultural, European study of 644 women and men, aged 65–98 years, food habits and foodwork were examined from a life course perspective. The study is a part of the”Food in Later Life – Choosing foods, eating meals:sustaining independence and quality of life” project, which was carried out in eight European countries using qualitative interviews for data collection. Informants in all eight countries reported experiences of a time when access to food was limited and when foodwork in the household context was extensive. Important transitions and turning points occurred during their lives, and marriage meant that women took on the role of food-givers and men the role of food-receivers. Other changes in relation to food habits and foodwork arose when they were suddenly alone, contracted a disease and retired. Loss of appetite, loneliness, frailty and disease in the last part of life were identified as a transition towards less elaborated meals.

Meals and snacks among elderly self-managing and disabled women.

AIM The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and distribution of self-managing and disabled elderly womens eating events, as well as to investigate which definition/names the women had given their different eating events and to categorise these into meals and snacks. An additional aim was to study the composition of meals and snacks, and analyse the nutritional significance of these eating events in terms of energy and macronutrients. SUBJECTS Elderly women, both self-managing (n=139) and disabled (n=63; with Parkinsons disease, rheumatoid arthritis or stroke), aged 64-88 years, and living at home participated. METHODS A repeated 24 h recall and an estimated food diary for three consecutive days were used. RESULTS The eating events defined by the women that were categorised as meals contributed 74% of the total daily energy intake, while snacks contributed 22-23%. The meals that the women had defined as dinner, was the most energy dense meal. The frequency of eating events not defined by the women, was 30-34%, but contributed only 3-4% of the total daily energy intake. The disabled women had a significantly lower energy content in meals and most snacks, compared to the self-managing women. CONCLUSION The main conclusion was that elderly women still living at home had their meals distributed during the day and that these meals were characterised by individuality and flexibility.

What actions promote a positive ethical climate? A critical incident study of nurses’ perceptions

Few qualitative studies explore the phenomenon of positive ethical climate and what actions are perceived as promoting it. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore and describe actions that acute care ward nurses perceive as promoting a positive ethical climate. The critical incident technique was used. Interviews were conducted with 20 nurses at wards where the ethical climate was considered positive, according to a previous study. Meeting the needs of patients and next of kin in a considerate way, as well as receiving and giving support and information within the work group, promoted a positive ethical climate. Likewise, working as a team with a standard for behaviour within the work group promoted a positive ethical climate. Future research should investigate other conditions that might also promote a positive ethical climate.

Food Intake and the Elderly — Social Aspects

In the beginning of the 21st century most countries in the World are facing tremendous demographic changes in which the elderly are the fastest growing segment of the population. Between 1980 and 2020 the number of elderly (over age 64) in westernised countries will grow 66%, while in Asia the population will grow more than 200% (Senauer et al. 1991). At the same time, the younger segment of the population will decrease, leaving a gap between those elderly people in society who might need help and those who, in terms of employed workers or relatives, need to provide this help. Every facet of society will be affected, including food consumed in everyday life. Some researchers predict that society in the near future will be unable to satisfactorily meet or deal with the needs and requirements of elderly households. Others stress that a new social trend, such as rising living standards among the population as a whole, will be positive in terms of society overall, including its elderly members (Senauer et al. 1991; Fenell et al. 1994). Older persons will be able to buy whatever services or commodities they need, but nonetheless they may experience other problems associated with foods for example. Several studies have reported insufficient energy and nutrient intake among the elderly living at home (Wylie et al. 1999; Tierney 1996). Many factors might explain this phenomenon, such as; loss of appetite after becoming a widow/widower, resulting from social isolation, physical disability, economic problems, poor access to shops and difficulties undertaking the shopping, inadequate food storage facilities, subjective experience of the “Meals on Wheels” as non-tasty or culturally unfamiliar, and so on (Wylie et al. 1999; Wolfe et al. 1996; Rolls 1994). The necessity of comprehending social and cultural meanings of food and food-related behaviours is important when studying food in relation to health as well as the role of food in life. Food research among the elderly has, however, focused more upon nutritional factors, one example being the so-called Euronut SENECA-study published in 1991 on nutrition and the elderly (n=2600, respondents 70–75 years of age), than on studies that emphasise cultural and social aspects of elderly food intake (Euronut SENECA study 1991). As new social developments emerge, associated with the demographic changes described above, research into cultural and social aspects of ageing will become more important.

Relevance of philosophy of life and optimism for psychological distress among individuals in a stage where death is approaching

The purpose was to investigate the relevance of philosophy of life as well as optimism for the psychological distress among Swedish individuals in a stage where death is approaching. Sixty-nine persons were included; of these were 42 patients newly diagnosed with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and 26 were partners to these patients. The participants’ philosophy of life was studied through a semi-structured interview. The interview statements were subjected to content analysis. Optimism was measured by the Life Orientation Test and psychological distress by the Hospitality and Depression Scale. The results showed that optimistic respondents had less psychological distress. Two aspects of philosophy of life had relevance for such distress. These were wondering about why the cancer had occurred and having a feeling of being able to live a good life having or living near a person with advanced cancer. In conclusion, the above-mentioned aspects of philosophy of life as well as optimism have relevance for psychological distress among these individuals, which stress the importance that health-care staff address both patients’ and their partners’ concerns about their philosophy of life.