Abstract
Little is known about the life course of older adults with serious mental illness who have also been homeless. Using 44 life history interviews with 25 study participants ages 40 to 62, this study used case study and thematic analysis to examine the lived experience of such individuals as they enter their mid- and later-life years. Participants, whose lives were marred by early-onset substance abuse, symptoms of mental illness and a descent into homelessness, spoke of an awareness of aging and premature mortality. Major themes that emerged were: (1) reflecting on losses, (2) growing older and wiser, (3) struggling with normality, (4) having space and time to reevaluate, and (5) awareness of the future and "time left." Life histories which focus on the person-in-context and their subjective experiences provide a viable research method to further the understanding of one of the most underserved and hardest-to-reach populations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 188-196 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Aging Studies |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2009 |
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Keywords
- Case study
- Homeless
- Life course
- Severe mental illness
- Thematic analysis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Issues, ethics and legal aspects
- Health Policy
Cite this
The experiences of "aging" among formerly homeless adults with chronic mental illness : A qualitative study. / Shibusawa, Tazuko; Padgett, Deborah.
In: Journal of Aging Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3, 08.2009, p. 188-196.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The experiences of "aging" among formerly homeless adults with chronic mental illness
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Shibusawa, Tazuko
AU - Padgett, Deborah
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - Little is known about the life course of older adults with serious mental illness who have also been homeless. Using 44 life history interviews with 25 study participants ages 40 to 62, this study used case study and thematic analysis to examine the lived experience of such individuals as they enter their mid- and later-life years. Participants, whose lives were marred by early-onset substance abuse, symptoms of mental illness and a descent into homelessness, spoke of an awareness of aging and premature mortality. Major themes that emerged were: (1) reflecting on losses, (2) growing older and wiser, (3) struggling with normality, (4) having space and time to reevaluate, and (5) awareness of the future and "time left." Life histories which focus on the person-in-context and their subjective experiences provide a viable research method to further the understanding of one of the most underserved and hardest-to-reach populations.
AB - Little is known about the life course of older adults with serious mental illness who have also been homeless. Using 44 life history interviews with 25 study participants ages 40 to 62, this study used case study and thematic analysis to examine the lived experience of such individuals as they enter their mid- and later-life years. Participants, whose lives were marred by early-onset substance abuse, symptoms of mental illness and a descent into homelessness, spoke of an awareness of aging and premature mortality. Major themes that emerged were: (1) reflecting on losses, (2) growing older and wiser, (3) struggling with normality, (4) having space and time to reevaluate, and (5) awareness of the future and "time left." Life histories which focus on the person-in-context and their subjective experiences provide a viable research method to further the understanding of one of the most underserved and hardest-to-reach populations.
KW - Case study
KW - Homeless
KW - Life course
KW - Severe mental illness
KW - Thematic analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67549084850&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67549084850&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaging.2007.12.019
DO - 10.1016/j.jaging.2007.12.019
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 188
EP - 196
JO - Journal of Aging Studies
JF - Journal of Aging Studies
SN - 0890-4065
IS - 3
ER -