An assessment of the health status of a group of independent residents of a retirement village especially in relation to aspects of physical health and musculoskeletal function
Date
2016Citation:
van der Vliet, E. (2016) An assessment of the health status of a group of independent residents of a retirement village especially in relation to aspects of physical health and musculoskeletal function. An unpublished research project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Osteopathy, Unitec Institute of Technology.Permanent link to Research Bank record:
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/3464Abstract
AIM:
To assess the health status of nine independent retirement village residents to build a picture of the presence and effects of musculoskeletal complaints on their lives.
METHODS:
Nine independently living residents from an Auckland retirement village were randomly selected from a list of residents who expressed interest. They were interviewed on their present and past health with a specific focus on musculoskeletal issues. The method, including analysis, was guided by a descriptive phenomenological process.
RESULTS:
Three main themes were identified that portrayed musculoskeletal impairments of independent residents
1) Coping with the hard work of aging,
2) Slowing the momentum of age
3) Understanding what happens as one ages.
DISCUSSION:
The findings showed that although residents were experiencing musculoskeletal impairments they were not focused on pain. They chose instead to focus their energy on adapting or improving their health.