Centre for Policy on Ageing



I'm on my way — the meaning of being oldest old, as narrated by people aged 95 and over
Author(s)	Regina Santamaki Fischer, Astrid Norberg, Berit Lundman
Journal title	Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, vol 19, no 2, 2007
Publisher	Binghamton, NY, 2007
Pages	pp 3-20
Source	http://www.tandfonline.com
Keywords	Nonagenarians ; Centenarians ; Attitude ; Spiritual characteristics [elderly] ; Dying ; Qualitative Studies ; Sweden.
Annotation	A phenomenological hermeneutic analysis of interviews was performed to uncover the meaning of the lived experience of being oldest old. 12 people aged between 95 and 103 from the Umeå 85+ Study sample in Northern Sweden were interviewed. Two themes were formulated, the first - being in stillness and in movement - involves being in one's aged body, unable to move and being in the stillness of the inner person occupied with an inner movement of remembering and reconciling with life. The second - being at the threshold and being ready to let go - implies being at peace with God and feeling confidence, despite the anxiety of dying. A comprehensive understanding was formulated based on Gabriel Marcel's thoughts on hope, in terms of which, to the oldest old means living in hope and being on the move. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-070703205 A
Classmark	BBR: BBT: DP: EX: CX: 3DP: 76P
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.