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Care recipients’ perceptions of activity-related life space and life satisfaction during and after geriatric rehabilitation

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Abstract

The debate concerning older people’s life spaces should be based on subjective priorities of the elderly themselves. The purpose of this study was therefore to improve the understanding of preferences of elderly care recipients regarding activity-related life space (ARLS) and life satisfaction. A mainly qualitative design was used. Fifteen persons aged 80–94 years, undergoing geriatric rehabilitation, were interviewed during hospital stay and on two follow-up occasions after discharge. Transcribed interviews were analyzed in line with the thematic framework approach. The results point to three approaches related to preferences of ARLS: hierarchical limitations, changing continuity, and boundary breaking. Adaptive approaches were employed when physical incapacity was considered a hindrance to activity, adaptations which as a rule resulted in limitations of ARLS preferences. Activity related to the area ‘close to one’s own body’ emerged as one of three identified key activities with importance for life satisfaction, the others being socializing and going out of doors. Continuity of activity in a familiar life space was expressed as a common ideal. If the aim of geriatric rehabilitation is to improve care recipients’ life satisfaction, attention needs to be paid to the subjective dimensions of the ARLS in the goal setting.

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Abbreviations

ADL:

Activities of daily living

ARLS:

Activity-related life space

GMF:

General motor function assessment scale

ICF:

The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health

P-E:

Person–environment

QOL:

Quality of life

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Foundation for Health Care Sciences and Allergy Research, the Medical Faculty at Uppsala University, the Thuréus Fund for Geriatric Research, and the Geriatric Research Foundation. The author thanks Birgitta Sidenvall for contributing with design ideas and Annika Bring and Bo Kälvemark for carrying out some of the interviews.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala Science Park, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden

    Anna Cristina Åberg

  2. The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anna Cristina Åberg

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  1. Anna Cristina Åberg
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Correspondence to Anna Cristina Åberg.

Appendix

Appendix

Overview of the items of the GMF/dependence assessment scale.

Mobility

Upper-limb functions

1

Turn over when lying in bed

12

Move left hand to mouth

2

Sit up from recumbent position

13

Move right hand to mouth

3

Lie down from a sitting position

14

Move left hand to head

4

Transfer from bed to chair

15

Move right hand to head

5

Touch left big toe in sitting position

16

Move left hand on back

6

Touch right big toe in sitting position

17

Move right hand on back

7

Stand up from a sitting position

18

Greeting grip with left hand

8

Stand more than 10 s

19

Greeting grip with right hand

9

Transfer indoors 10 m

20

Pinch grip with left hand

10

Climb stairs up/down seven steps

21

Pinch grip with right hand

11

Transfer outdoors 25 m

  

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Åberg, A.C. Care recipients’ perceptions of activity-related life space and life satisfaction during and after geriatric rehabilitation. Qual Life Res 17, 509–520 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9337-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9337-2

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