My home is where my health is: narratives on health promotion from older people living at home

TL;DR

Older people living at home associate their health and well-being with their home environment and the support they receive.

Contribution

The study introduces a salutogenic perspective on how home environments and support systems promote health in older adults.

Findings

Home life supports independence, identity, and activity in older adults.

Formal and informal support is crucial for health promotion at home.

A sense of coherence enhances well-being in aging at home.

Abstract

Many older people want to live at home for as long as possible, and the aging population is highlighting the importance of understanding what they require for their lives to be good. This study explored how older recipients of home care experience the meaning of home from a health-promoting perspective.

Narrative interviews were conducted with 10 people aged 78–103 years living at home and receiving home care nursing. We conducted a thematic narrative analysis, and based on the results chose a salutogenic perspective to shed light on the health-promoting perspective.

The primary theme identified was “My home is where my health is.” It reflects a compellation of the four subthemes emerging from the data: (1) my home promotes independence and autonomy, (2) my home promotes identity and self, (3) my home promotes being active, and (4) the support I receive is pivotal to promoting health and life at home. These themes are pivotal to health promotion and well-being in old age.

Living at home contributes to meaningfulness, manageability, comprehensibility, and a sense of coherence. This promotes health and well-being for older people living at home if they receive both formal and informal support.

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