Abstract
ABSTRACTPurpose: Current healthcare systems are not suitable for serving future societies in which the oldest old are commonplace. The objective of this study was to understand what the oldest old care most about in their daily lives.Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews and thematic analysis were used. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in 17 elderly residents (≥ 95 years) of Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan from July to November 2017.Results: Three themes emerged from the interview responses: “unshakable beliefs and social ties,” “natural acceptance,” and “my day-to-day life with precious moments.” The oldest old strongly believe in diligence and compassion and maintain strong relationships with people around them. Despite their small social networks, they are concerned about future society. They accept their selves and their lives, including their impending deaths. Despite their functional decline, they control their lives by making very small decisions. They live on a moment-to-moment basis, cherishing simple events.Conclusion: Maintaining autonomy through making small decisions and enjoying small pleasures are important to the oldest old. Understanding the needs of the oldest old is the first step towards developing optimal geriatric care for an aging population.
Highlights
We are approaching the era where providing routine care for people over 100 years of age is common
The conventional “cure-seeking” model of medical care and the current trend towards medicalization are not suitable for the very elderly, meaning a paradigm shift is urgently required in rapidly aging countries (Arai et al, 2015)
This study aims to determine what the oldest old care about in their daily lives in Japan, which is at the forefront of aging societies, which can help develop suitable geriatric care for the future
Summary
We are approaching the era where providing routine care for people over 100 years of age is common. The number of the very elderly is growing faster than any other age group (World Health Organization, 2015), with the proportion of centenarians increasing rapidly, and it is estimated that by 2050 there will be 23.6 centenarians for every 10,000 adults aged 65 and older (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2015). Such a dramatic increase in the number of very old people presents a serious challenge for health and social care systems (Zeng, Feng, Hesketh, Christensen, & Vaupel, 2017). The conventional “cure-seeking” model of medical care and the current trend towards medicalization are not suitable for the very elderly, meaning a paradigm shift is urgently required in rapidly aging countries (Arai et al, 2015)
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