The Experience of Older Men Living Alone: A Phenomenological Perspective

The purpose of this study was to uncover older men's experience of living alone. This study was pursued because much of the literature reports that older men who live alone face the highest risk of death, mental illness, physical disability, and social isolation in our country. Based upon this literature, nurses appeared to be ignoring the needs of this vulnerable population. Using Giorgi's phenomenological method, 14 men 60 years and older who lived alone were interviewed and asked about their experience living alone. In the data analysis, the themes of self-growth, self-determination, structure, balance and sense of purpose emerged. Essentially, the experience of living alone for older men means the opportunity for self-growth and the freedom of self-determination, while maintaining structure, balance, and sense of purpose. This study demonstrated that living alone is not necessarily a contributing factor to the health difficulties this population faces; other factors, in addition to living alone, must contribute to their vulnerabilities. Using this information, nurses are better able to determine how to provide care for older men who live alone. Furthermore, future nursing research is needed to further identify those factors which do contribute to the vulnerabilities of older men who live alone.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year dc:date.available

2008

Author dc:creator

• Yetter, Leslie Susan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Joan Masters
• Mary Ann Thurkettle
• Patricia Hentz

• older men
• gerontology
• living alone
• phenomenology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1391

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2407