Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.47(4) > 1003262

Park: Experience of Frailty in Korean Elderly: A Phenomenological Study Utilizing the Colaizzi Method

Abstract

Purpose

This study attempts to explore the subjective experience of frailty among elderly individuals in Korea.

Methods

From June to August in 2014, 11 elderly persons who had experienced frailty in a community were interviewed. For data analysis, the method suggested by Colaizzi was applied as a phenomenological method.

Results

According to the analysis, the study participants’ frailty process was structured in seven categories: ⒜ ‘natural phenomenon with ageing,’ ⒝ ‘life force comes to an end,’ ⒞ ‘the light in my heart turns off,’ ⒟ ‘unavoidable situation,’ ⒠ ‘continuous and connected vicious cycle,’ ⒡ ‘the limit of recovery energy already passes,’ and ⒢ ‘life is supported by someone's help.’

Conclusion

The frailty experience in the participants is a natural process of aging, which cause vicious cycle acting with each other among physical, psychological, and social health. It is said that the cycle of frailty was started from weight loss and insufficient sleep, and boostered by pain. The participants from repetition of the vicious cycle become exhausted and pass the threshold of their recovery energy at some points. If they meet with sudden accidents such as falling, traffic accident and so on, they become to live a dependent life supported by someone's help in a moment. To prevent frailty and worsening conditions in Korean elderly individuals, it is recommended to provide a interventional programs using this study's results.

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Figure 1.
Essential structure of the frailty experience in the elderly.
jkan-47-562f1.tif
Table 1.
Frailty Experience in the Elderly
Theme Theme cluster Category
Symptoms with aging Aging causes all Natural phenomenon with ageing
Diseases not recovered but repeated Life with sickness and pain Live force comes to an end
Living with lots of medicine
Pain accompanied all the time
Frequent colds Broken physical function
Cannot sleep well
Unconsciously degraded cognition
Noticeable weight loss
Weakened hand and leg strength
Less energy Weak days
Work beyond my power
Emptiness not like my mind Spontaneous gloomy mind The light in my heart turns off
My unfair life
Do not want to disturb others Suicidal ideation in my heart
Want to give up everything
Do not want to adapt to something new Naturally confining myself in the house Unavoidable situation
Hate going outside
Institutions are far from home
Spending long winter alone
Eating only vegetables due to poverty Activities restricted by poverty
Poverty prevents me from participating in meetings
Impaired function shrinks my mind Vicious cycle of body, mind and environment Continuous and connected vicious cycle
Impaired function and pain force me to stay at home
Seclusion makes me depressed
Disease after depression
Disease progresses faster Disease worsened in a moment The limit of recovery energy already passes
Passing the age that can withstand
Experiencing surgery, hospitalization A sudden accident
Experiencing fall, traffic accident
Cannot do anything alone Living like a living corpse Life is supported by someone's help
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