地域包括ケア病棟を退院した独居高齢者の生活の編み直しの意味

Implications of Reorganizing the Lives of Elderly People Living Alone Discharged From a Community Comprehensive Care Unit

要旨

　目的：地域包括ケア病棟を退院した独居高齢者の生活の編み直しの意味を明らかにする．

　方法：急性期病棟に入院後地域包括ケア病棟に移った後退院し，独居で療養生活を送る高齢者14名を対象に半構造化面接法を行い質的記述的に分析した．

　結果：地域包括ケア病棟を退院した独居高齢者の生活の編み直しの意味として【生活を切り替える】【過去を肯定する】【暮らしを楽しむ】【暮らしを取り戻す】【覚悟して生きる】【用心しながら暮らす】の6つのカテゴリーが抽出された．

　結論：地域包括ケア病棟を退院した独居高齢者の生活の編み直しの意味は，入退院の経験を有したことで元々の生活スタイルや暮らし方を再考し，それまでの人生を振り返り，肯定や受容を通してあえて選択した独居を楽しみ，元の生活を取り戻しながらも命の期限を感じ，人生しまいを準備する暮らしに意義を持つことであった．

　Objective: This study aimed to clarify the meaning of reorganizing the lives of elderly people living alone discharged from a community comprehensive care unit.

　Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 elderly people living alone discharged from a community comprehensive care unit after being hospitalized in an acute care unit and conducted a qualitative descriptive analysis of their lives.

　Results: Six categories were extracted as meanings of reorganizing the lives of elderly people living alone after discharge from the community comprehensive care unit,switching lives, affirming the past, enjoying life, regaining life, living with determination, and living with caution.

　Conclusion: In reorganizing the lives of elderly people living alone discharged from the community comprehensive care unit, they reconsidered their original lifestyle and way of living after being in and out of the hospital. Moreover, they looked back on their lives to that point and, through affirmation and acceptance, lived with determination and simultaneously confronted their mortality.