title: Supporting older adults living with multiple chronic conditions.
abstract: This qualitative study was conducted using focus groups to explore the strategies commonly employed by older adults (N = 37) to manage multiple chronic conditions. Key strategies identified were relating with health care providers, medicating, exercising, changing dietary patterns, seeking information, relying on spirituality and/or religion, and engaging in life. Although social support was not mentioned as a discrete strategy, the participants' social networks were embedded in all of the categories. This study supports building a partnership of care in which nurses and other health care professionals function in supportive and educative roles to enhance the older person's lifelong self-care management and ability to stay in control of multiple chronic health conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Delaware, USA.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Loeb
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penrod
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falkenstern
authors.forename: Sarah Hall
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gueldner
authors.forename: Leonard W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Poon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support