title: Living in your own home and being socially connected at 95 years and beyond: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Being socially connected is linked to positively influencing older people's ability to remain living in their own homes and has shown to support independence and enhance well-being.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore how individuals aged 95 years and older living in their own home remain socially connected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Informed by a critical gerontological approach, semi-structured interviews with eight women and two men aged between 96 and 100 years were undertaken. Following transcription, data were thematically analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main themes illuminating social connectedness were identified: "Keeping company: staying connected with family and friends", "Doing things together: engaging with paid and unpaid helpers" and "Having pride and enjoyment: continuing with hobbies and interests".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important that health professionals and social service providers recognise the importance of social connectedness, and provide a range of options to support continuing social connectedness and community engagement for older people.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nursing , Auckland University of Technology , Private Bag 92006, Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neville
authors.affiliation: b Presbyterian Support Southland , 181 Spey Street, Invercargill , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: c SHORE and Whariki Research Centre, Massey University , Albany Campus, Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Health & Life Sciences , Oxford Brookes University , Oxford , UK.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D018577:Homebound Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support
keywords: critical gerontology; gerontological nursing; older people; oldest old; social connections