The Meaning of Being a Senior: Phenomenological Research and Interpretation with Parse's Theory of Nursing

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to report findings from a phenomenological analysis on the meaning of being a senior. Six hundred narrative stories written by older Canadians on their personal experiences in later life were analyzed using the operations of the van Kaam phenomenological method. Seven common elements were created to capture the shared meaning about being a senior contained in the narratives. The seven elements when linked together formed the central finding of the study in a structural definition. The structural definition arising in this study is: Being a senior means engaging the now while rolling with the vicissitudes of life as refined astuteness surfaces a buoyant unburdening. It is as though shifting rhythms propel discovery through grateful abiding in wondering awareness as anticipation of new possibles enlivens connectedness and altruistic commitments affirm self amidst the retrospective pondering of everydayness. This definition was interpreted from Parse's theoretical perspective in order to expand the knowledge base of nursing science. Descriptive expressions from the narratives were linked with major concepts from Parse's theory. Implications for research and practice are specified. Discussion includes comparison of the findings with other qualitative investigations exploring the meaning of aging with older persons in the United States, Germany, Britain, and Nepal.