| Summary: | Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/Open Allur texti - Full text All projections indicate that the number of elderly individuals will rise sharply in the near future. It is the policy of the Icelandic government to help elderly people to live in their own homes for as long as possible. This is also the preference of elderly individuals themselves. Therefore, it is important to develop knowledge in relation to the experience of the elderly of living in their own homes. The purpose of this study was to describe how the frail elderly experience living in their own home and what kind of assistance and living environment they consider necessary to continue independent living. This was an interpretativephenomenological study and was conducted in collaboration with the primary health care in the greater Reykjavík area. Eight elderly individuals, four men and four women who were waiting for nursing home placement and lived in their own homes, were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed and interpreted to meet the purpose of the study. The findings revealed that most participants enjoyed living in their own homes and planned to continue living there for as long as possible. They lived for each day and were content with life at home. However, they evinced a clear sense of insecurity owing to deteriorating health which was the main reason for considering moving to a nursing home. Many of them had experienced prolonged hospital stays and dreaded another downturn in health. The assistance from the public care system and families, in addition to good accommodation, were considered necessary to continue residence at home. Those living in socalled “service flats” for the elderly were particularly satisfied with their situation and experienced security. Nurses must assess the health and wellbeing of the frail elderly and organize appropriate services in participation with them. In addition, the family must be supported in its care giving and consulted when services ...
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