title: A phenomenological inquiry into the embodied nature of occupation at end of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational therapists propose that occupation is a basic human need across the lifespan. However, there is limited understanding of how occupation contributes to the end-of-life experience.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the embodied nature of occupation at end of life from the perspectives of Canadians 60 years of age or older who are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study adopted a phenomenological methodological approach to conduct semi-structured interviews with eight participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six themes were identified. Participants described orientations toward occupations that involved: living with death, reworking everyday life, being guided by the will of the body, giving priority to relationships, attending to the small things, and engaging existential orientations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study contributes to knowledge about occupation at end of life and offers a starting point to guide practice that is attentive to the lived dimensions of occupation at end of life.
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences graduate program, University of Western Ontario, London, ON. aparklala@gmail.com
authors: Anna Park
authors: AP
authors: Lala
authors: Elizabeth Anne
authors: EA
authors: Kinsella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000941:ethics*; D009790:Occupations; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology