| Summary: | Abstract The aim of this study was to construct a theory of an environment supporting the well-being of the home-dwelling elderly from Northern Finland. The development process proceeded as follows: 1) description of elements of environment supporting the well-being of home-dwelling elderly aged over 65 years (physical, social and symbolical environment) and, using concept synthesis, construction of hypothetical models of a physical, social and symbolic environment supporting well-being, 2) development of an indicator to test the hypothetical models and 3) testing the hypothetical models. The analysed data (N = 39) of the first stage consisted of theme interviews with home-dwelling elderly persons. Hypothetical models of an environment supporting the well-being of home-dwelling elderly were constructed using inductive concept synthesis. In the second stage, the reliability of the indicator designed to test the hypothetical models was evaluated by a panel of experts consisting of 15 students of nursing science and three doctors of Health Sciences. The data (n = 96) used to test the reliability of the second indicator consisted of the results of a postal questionnaire to elderly over the age of 65 from Northern Finland. The questionnaire also included questions about answering the indicator aimed further development. The data were analysed by looking at descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients. The data (n = 328) of the final stage of the study comprised again home-dwelling elderly from Northern Finland. The data were analysed using explorative and confirmatory factor analyses to test the hypothetical models. In addition, the data were analysed using statistical methods. According to the theory, an environment supporting the well-being of home-dwelling elderly from Northern Finland is made up by its physical, social and symbolical attributes. The attributes defining a physical environment supporting well-being are a northern environment, an environment ensuring safety and a pleasant physical ...
|
|---|