Abstract
The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the problems of community dwelling persons 67 years and older, in meeting their self-care requisites, and the factors in living arrangements assosiated with these problems. Community nurses in both administration and practice can use the results in planning curative and preventive interventions for all the elderly or for groups of elderly according to living arrangements. These groups were those living alone, living with a spouse or living with other family members. A standardized questionnaire revised from Dr. Agnes Bjørns interview guide used in Denmark, was mailed to 893 persons 67 years and older residing in their own homes in an Eastern Norwegian community. To analyse the data, Dorothea Orems categories of self-care requisites was used. The method was usefull to find the health status among the elderly. Many elderly were satisfied with their lifestyle even if they had health problems. Memory problems was the biggest area of problems, 59% mentioned this. An average of 30% were dissatisfied with each of 10 specified bodily functions. The data totaly affirmed greater problems among those elderly living alone or with a family member, than among those elderly living with a spouse. The litterature says little or nothing about basic need problems among elderly living with a family member.
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