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Aging with Long-term Physical Impairments: The Significance of Social Support*

  • Rebecca Casey (a1) and Sharon Dale Stone (a2)
Abstract

This article examines the living situations and access to social support for community-dwelling people between the ages of 50 and 65, and who have lived with significant physical impairment for more than 15 years. Data were gathered through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight men and women. Findings suggest that coping with long-term impairment may be a lonely experience when the individual lacks a strong network of family and/or friends to offer emotional support. Participants felt their experiences of aging with significant long-term impairment were improved when they shared thoughts, feelings, and problems with others. Findings also show the significance of gender regarding access to social support and point towards the importance of using subjective understanding when ascertaining the level of social support available to individuals. More generally, findings underscore the broader point that individuals aging with impairments are immersed in and wish to maintain reciprocal relationships.

Cet article examine les situations de la vie et l’accès à la prise en charge sociale des personnes vivant dans des communautés, qui sont âgés de 50 à 65 ans, et qui ont vécu avec une déficience physique significative depuis plus de 15 ans. Les données ont été recueillies par le biais d’entretiens approfondis et semi-structurés avec huit hommes et femmes. Les conclusions suggèrent que faire façe à la dégradation à long terme peut être une expérience solitaire lorsqu’un individu ne dispose pas d’un réseau solide de la famille et/ou des amis à apporter le soutien émotionnel. Selon les participants, leurs expériences du vieillissment avec déficience à long terme ont été améliorées lorsqu’ils partagent les pensées, les sentiments et les problèmes avec d’autres. Les conclusions montrent également l’importance du genre concernant l’accès à l’assistance sociale, et indiquent l’importance d’utiliser des ententes subjectives pour déterminer le niveau de soutien social disponible aux individus. Plus généralement, les conclusions soulignent que les personnes qui vieillissent avec des déficiences plongent dans, et souhaitent entretenir, des relations réciproques.

Copyright
COPYRIGHT: © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2010
Corresponding author
†Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Sharon Dale Stone, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Lakehead University 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1 (sdstone@lakeheadu.ca)
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*

We thank the two anonymous reviewers of an earlier version of this manuscript, who offered useful comments and suggestions to clarify and strengthen our arguments,

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Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement
  • ISSN: 0714-9808
  • EISSN: 1710-1107
  • URL: /core/journals/canadian-journal-on-aging-la-revue-canadienne-du-vieillissement
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