Experiences of health and well-being, a question of adjustment and compensation - views of older people dependent on community care

Most studies concerning older people's health and well-being have focused on their ill health, disease and complaints and have mainly been conducted with a quantitative design. Hence, there is still a need for qualitative studies in which these peoples' own views on health and well-being are shown, especially when they are dependent on health care in a community setting. A qualitative approach was used in the study reported here and aimed at obtaining a deeper understanding of older peoples' own views about their health and well-being. Interviews were carried out on two occasions with 19 older people living in their own homes and in sheltered accommodation. The data were analysed using content analysis. The findings suggested that the possibility to feel healthy was dependent both on the older person's own ability to adjust or compensate to their situation, and on how their caregivers, relatives and friends could compensate for the obstacles the older person faced. The subcategories that captured the informants' experiences of health and ill health were described as positive and negative poles of autonomy, togetherness, tranquillity and security in daily life. The significance of the caregivers was clearly evident. Their competence, commitment and treatment were prerequisites for the older person's ability to experience health in spite of being dependent on care.