The experience of activity for older people ageing with a chronic respiratory condition: ageing before one's time

Williams, Veronika, Bruton, Anne, Ellis-Hill, Caroline and McPherson, Kathryn (2007) The experience of activity for older people ageing with a chronic respiratory condition: ageing before one's time. 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, USA. 16 - 20 Nov 2007. (Submitted)

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition that mainly affects older people. It can severely affect peoples' ability to engage in activities and may affect their ageing experience. However, it appears that little has been published with regard to this experience of activity of older people living with COPD. The aim of this research was to explore the experience of activity as perceived by older people ageing with COPD using qualitative methodology. This interview based, Grounded Theory study included 18 people with COPD (59 to 84 years old; 12 men and six women). Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed to derive themes of importance to participants. Two main concepts were identified: ‘stagnation’ - as linked to being confined to indoors; and ‘movement’ - associated with being outdoors. Stagnation affected participants on a physical and psychosocial level and changed their perception of themselves, their symptoms and their ageing experience. The experience of stagnation as a result of being confined to indoors led to perceptions of premature ageing. Movement, including physical and psychosocial aspects, enabled people to escape feelings of stagnation and changed perceptions of self, environment and symptoms. The environment was an important contextual factor influencing the experience of activity for older people ageing with COPD. The stagnation-movement model suggests a link between the environment and experience of illness, ageing and activity. Therefore the experience a chronic respiratory condition affects the individual’s ageing experience and may lead to feelings of ageing before one’s time.

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Contributors

Author: Anne Bruton

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