Elderly Perceptions of Health and Successful Aging

Introduction

In the past few decades, there has been increased interest in the health of elderly adults and their role during the aging period, especially for those aged 65 years and above (Shiraz, Hildon & Vrijhoef, 2020; Tkatch et al., 2017). Old age is commonly associated with several health conditions and chronic diseases that affect an older adult's wellbeing and require the diversion of resources that could otherwise be directed toward the ailing older adult. In the effort to combat elderly ill-health and the common health conditions related to old age — such as dementia — there has been increased development of interventions and programs designed to prevent or mitigate the advanced effects of these conditions. Despite these efforts, they risk futility if older adults do not consider health a major factor in successful aging.

Statement of the Problem and Purpose

Health is a crucial issue for all humans, and it becomes even more critical in old age, as elderly individuals face numerous health conditions simply by virtue of aging. Most of these conditions — including dementia, depression, diabetes, back and neck pain, and osteoarthritis — are related primarily to lifestyle factors, with the main concerns being physical inactivity and poor nutrition (Rudnicka et al., 2020). Consequently, several initiatives have been developed, some grounded in evidence-based practices that deliver effective results. However, regardless of how effective these interventions are, they will remain irrelevant as long as elderly individuals do not consider health a major priority for successful aging (Tkatch et al., 2017). There is limited research on elderly persons' perceptions of the importance and role of health in ensuring a successful old age.

The purpose of this research is therefore to determine elderly persons' perceptions of the importance of health in ensuring they enjoy their old age. Numerous initiatives have been developed to mitigate age-related health conditions, yet many individuals continue to struggle with those same conditions (Shrestha et al., 2020; Zhong, Lin & Yang, 2020). This may indicate that older adults do not regard health as critical to successful aging, or that there are challenges and hindrances to their participation in health-promotion practices. Accordingly, this qualitative research study seeks to establish how elderly persons think about health and to identify any challenges they face in adopting or maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The findings of this research will establish descriptions of older adults' perceptions across a spectrum of health-related domains. These perceptions will be useful in shaping programs that support health promotion and maintenance. This approach is essential because it moves beyond the clinical model of health and provides a holistic insight into older adults' determinants of health and their health needs during old age (Tkatch et al., 2017). This qualitative perspective will offer invaluable viewpoints on what elderly individuals may need from healthcare providers, healthcare professionals, personal resources, families, and the community in order to consider themselves as aging successfully.

Two research questions guide this study:

i. What are the perceptions of elderly persons regarding the importance of good health as a key factor for successful aging?

ii. What challenges prevent or hinder effective participation in common health-promotion practices — such as walking, socializing with peers, and healthy eating?

Review of Tkatch et al. (2017)

The study by Tkatch et al. (2017), "A Qualitative Study to Examine Older Adults' Perceptions of Health: Keys to Aging Successfully," utilized an exploratory qualitative research design with interviews as the primary method of data collection. The research was conducted in phases, with the first phase consisting of interviews with older adult individuals. This research design and instrument are directly relevant to the current proposed study. A qualitative research design is appropriate based on the research objective — evaluating perceptions (Al-Banna, 2018). Because perceptions and attitudes can change over time, an interview using open-ended questions is considered the most suitable instrument for addressing the research questions.

The research target population was older adult persons enrolled in AARP Medicare Supplement Plans insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, with the reference population being residents of New York insured by the UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York. This plan is accessible in all 50 states and various U.S. territories. The study sample was selected through purposive sampling to ensure balance across gender and clinical health status, and the Hierarchical Condition Category risk scores were used to select participants (Tkatch et al., 2017). A total of 32 participants comprised the final study sample.

While the proposed study similarly targets adults aged 65 and above, its sample will include diverse individuals regardless of insurance status, as the lack of insurance may itself be a factor affecting health perceptions. Due to limited resources and time, the proposed study will target elderly persons within a single neighborhood. A home setting will be selected to increase diversity compared to eldercare or hospital settings, where an established schedule might already promote a healthy lifestyle.

Data collection in the Tkatch et al. study was carried out through a third-party marketing company. A moderator from the marketing company conducted interviews in a neutral room at the target elderly facility. Semi-structured questions guided each interview, and each session lasted approximately 60 minutes. The New England Institutional Review Board approved the research methodology. Collected data was coded and analyzed through thematic analysis. The proposed research will use a similar approach; however, interviews will be conducted by the Principal Researcher (PR) rather than a third party. Given limited resources, hiring an external firm is not feasible. Additionally, having the PR conduct the interviews will allow for follow-up questions on unclear points, and conducting interviews in participants' homes will enable observational data to be gathered. Trustworthiness of the original study was established through the presentation of participants' direct interview responses.

References

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