Feeling good in old age

Introduction

Understanding what brings a sense of well-being to older adults, from their own perspectives, is vital for informing health promotion initiatives. This study aimed to investigate the views of older adults on the activities that contribute to their well-being, considering their diverse characteristics.

Methods

During preventive home visits a total of 1212 home-dwelling persons (age 78.85) provided responses to the open-ended question, 'What makes you feel good?' Inductive and summative content analyses were preformed, the data were categorized deductively based on The Canadian model of occupational performance and engagement into three main categories: leisure, productivity, and self-care. Comparative analyses were conducted across different groups, including men/women, persons with/without partners, and those reporting bad/good health.

Results

The study yielded a total of 3117 responses detailing what contributes to the well-being of older adults. Leisure activities were the most frequently mentioned (2501 times), encompassing social engagement, physical activities, and cultural pursuits. Productivity-related activities (mentioned 565 times), such asgardening, were the next most common. Self-care activities (reported 51 times) were comparatively less frequent. Significant variations were observed among men and women, those with or without partners, and individuals with differing self-reported health statuses in terms of the activities they associated with feeling good.

Conclusions

To enhance the well-being of older adults, health promotion interventions should create opportunities for tailored social engagement and physical activities. These interventions should be customized to accommodate the specific needs of different demographic groups.