Meaning of Health: The Experience of the Elderly

Authors

  • María de Lourdes Vargas Santillán Author Universidad Autònoma del Estado de Mèxico
  • Beatriz Arana-Gómez Author Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México
  • Maria de Lourdes García-Hernández Author Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México
  • Maria Guadalupe Ruelas-González Author Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública de México.
  • Estela Melguizo-Herrera Author Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia.
  • Ana Olivia Ruiz-Martínez Author Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México.

Keywords:

Geriatric nursing, the elderly, perception, family relationships, nursing care

Abstract

The meaning of health during old age is based on achieving a state of well-being. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that benefit or affect accomplishing that goal. Objective: analyze what health means to older adults, based on their experiences. Materials and methods: This is a qualitative study based on content analysis and semi-structured interviews. Twenty elderly adults who frequented a geriatric care center were selected intentionally and determined by means of a saturation index. Results: The meaning of health is manifest in the ability to do things. Accordingly, health is conceived as a useful means to obtain a benefit, be it material, moral or physical. Family ties are important and were even compared to health. The participants also equated health with the absence of pain and disease. Conclusion: Health is experienced by the elderly in a family context. Well-being is perceived as the ability to do things, even if pain and illness are present.

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Author Biographies

María de Lourdes Vargas Santillán, Universidad Autònoma del Estado de Mèxico

Estudiante de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Salud.

Profesora de Tiempo Completo en la Licenciatura en Enfermería de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México en el Centro Universitario UAEM Zumpango.

Beatriz Arana-Gómez, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México

Dra. en Enfermería y profesora investigadora de la Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia

Maria de Lourdes García-Hernández, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México

Dra. en Enfermería, Subdirectora Académica  y profesora investigadora de la Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia

Maria Guadalupe Ruelas-González, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública de México.

Dra. en Salud Pública, Investigadora docente del Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública de México.

Estela Melguizo-Herrera, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia.

Dra. en Enfermería, Coordinadora de Investigación y profesora investigadora de la Facultad de Enfermería de la Universidad de Cartagena

Ana Olivia Ruiz-Martínez, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México.

Dra. en Psicología y profesora investigadora del Centro Universitario UAEM Zumpango

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Published

2017-06-12

How to Cite

Vargas Santillán, M. de L., Arana-Gómez, B., García-Hernández, M. de L., Ruelas-González, M. G., Melguizo-Herrera, E., & Ruiz-Martínez, A. O. (2017). Meaning of Health: The Experience of the Elderly. Aquichan, 17(2), 171–182. Retrieved from https://aquichan.unisabana.edu.co/index.php/aquichan/article/view/6730

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Articles

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