Lonely bird has her own life – a look at the solitary living experience of female elders from oral history

• Main Authors: Shu-Yun Yu, 余淑雲
• Other Authors: Ming-Lee Yeh
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/74952628597861366529

碩士 === 國立台北護理學院 === 護理研究所 === 94 === This research is based on solitary living female elders in Taishan Township of Taipei County. Purposive sampling method is adopted to select three solitary living female elders over 65 years old and in-depth interview is carried out based on oral history method until the interviewed parties have completely described their course of life. The purpose is to conduct study on the reasons that will affect the formation of solitary living through understanding on the past of aged females and to understand how solitary female elders pass their solitary life and the effect on them by providing care on the solitary living. Through oral history method to understand their 「past」, this research can further understand the course of their mind on their road to solitary living. By conducting study on the unique life experience of females, it is hoped to find a balance point of solitary life situation in the life of solitary living female elders. Word by word the interview recording is translated into script draft. After analysis, comparison and generalization process and through the lives of the interviewed parties, their unique intelligence and tenacity can be sorted out that can reveal on how they look at their course of mind of solitary living. This research discovers that: the reason of solitary living of these three female elders is due to many factors. Amongst these, there is the effect of 「course change factor」. That means after the children were married and started their carrier, the female would only live with her spouse. Thereafter her spouse died and became a widow and after a series of changes in the course she had no alternative but to select solitary living. Due to the difference in the growing background of these three females, the form of solitary living is also different. In the daily life each person will find her own mode that is suitable to her and will live cautiously. Granny Tang does not like to have dispute with other people and by believing in predestination, she is of the opinion that life is either alive or dead. Granie Wang hands her life to the arrangement of god based on her firm belief and live everyday optimistically. Granny Lu is a self-disciplined person and she does not want to trouble other on all things. They can interact with outside through different method but they need to be responsible for their own safety and in this solitary life they have their own place that is solely belonged to themselves. Due to the introduction of different services on solitary female elders, there is significant progress regardless of whether it is development of social network and improvement of nutrition absorption. It is hoped that the result of this research can allow the general public to have a further understanding on solitary living female elders and provide relevant personnel with some reference during caring of solitary living female elders.