title: Health despite frailty: exploring influences on frail older adults' experiences of health.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore and identify influences on frail older adults' experience of health. A sample of older adults, 11 men and 11 women aged 67-92, with diverse ratings of self-perceived health ranging from poor to excellent were selected through a purposeful strategic sampling of frail older adults taken from a broader sample from a quantitative study on health. In total, 22 individual qualitative interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis in which themes were developed from raw data through a systematic reading, categorization of selected text, theme development and interpretation. To feel assured and capable was the main theme, which consisted of five subthemes: managing the unpredictable body, reinforcing a positive outlook, remaining in familiar surroundings, managing everyday life, and having a sense of belonging and connection to the whole. The importance of supporting frail older adults in subjective resilience in their context is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, Unit of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. zahra.ebrahimi@socmed.gu.se
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilhelmson
authors.forename: Kajsa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: Crystal Dea
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jakobsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans
keywords: Feel assured; Frail older adults; Perceptions of health; Promoting health and well-being