 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Patricia Hayes, PhD, RN, Adult Nursing, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 70629, Johnson City, TN 37614, (423) 439-4509, hayesp@etsu.edu
As a social group, elderly women age 75 and above are a vulnerable population. Factors that contribute to their vulnerability are living alone, poverty, poor health and rural residence. In addition, Appalachian traditional values may also contribute to vulnerability. Few studies have examined elderly women in Appalachia who live alone in rural areas and the complexity of influences, one of which is culture, upon their decisions to access and utilize formal and informal care systems. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the formal and informal care systems of Appalachian elderly women. Twenty women 75 years and older living alone in two rural northeast Tennessee counties, with the highest poverty levels, and fewest health care professionals, participated in semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews. Data were examined for patterns and themes utilizing the constant comparative method of analysis. Findings revealed that influences on decision making concerning access and utilization of formal and informal care systems involved myriad factors such as financial frailty and rural residence and also included traditional cultural values of family, help seeking and worries over rural and home sustainability. Further, insights about the healthcare needs and when and how they chose to access care systems were also revealed. Conclusions included recommendations for culturally sensitive community programs that support and encourage greater use of formal and informal care systems.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Care Seeking,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.