| dc.description.abstract | There is an increase in the number of older adults 85 and over, who are choosing
to live alone within the community. Moreover, older adults who live alone are
reportedly spending an extensive amount of time alone within the home
environment. In an effort to provide additional support and resources to older
adults living in the community, a compliment of services are being offered
through public and private organizations. These in-home supports focus on the
instrumental or functional tasks of daily living, such as personal and rehabilitative
care, nourishment, maintenance and upkeep of the home, as well as volunteer
social visitation. However leisure resources and programs are not included
among these services. Consequently, this creates a gap in leisure provision
among this segment of the population.
Throughout the life course, an individual's identity, role and purpose are
developed and sustained through instrumental work roles in the formal and
informal sector, as well as through personally meaningful leisure pastimes and
experiences. Although roles shift post retirement, participation in instrumental
and expressive activities can provide opportunities through which older adults are
able to fulfill their need for agency (individuality and autonomy) and affiliation
(social relatedness). Therefore barriers that inhibit instrumental or leisure
experiences can negatively impact older adults' quality of life.
This study explored the leisure lifestyles of four older adults, all of whom were
over 85, lived alone within the community and were oriented to person, time and
place. It became apparent that participants ordered their lives around a routine
that consisted of instrumental, expressive and socially integrated tasks and
activities. Moreover participants purposely chose to remain at home because
their home environment facilitated freedom, choice and independence. As a
result all four participants viewed their independence within the home as a critical
determinant to their overall quality of life. Challenges associated with the home
environment, participants' personal capacities and relationships were negotiated
on a daily basis. Failure to positively adapt to these challenges inhibited
meaningful engagement and personal fulfillment.
Traditionally, leisure service delivery has been offered within institutions and
through various community based venues. As a result leisure provision has been
focused on the needs of the frail elderly who reside in institutions or the well
elderly who are able to access leisure amenities within the community. However
the growing number of older adults electing to live alone is on the rise. As
individuals age the home becomes the preferred context for leisure experiences.
If older adults are choosing to live alone, then both their instrumental and leisure
needs must be addressed. As a result, it is imperative that leisure professionals
extend the scope of service delivery to include home centered older adults. | en_US |
