Structure of Resilience in Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

Promoting resilience in older adults with chronic conditions is one of the goals of professional nursing. However, few studies have been conducted in world on this issue. In our country, Iran, no study, either qualitative or quantitative, has been done in this area .The aim of this study was to explore the structure of resilience in older adults with chronic conditions.
In this study with descriptive phenomenological approach, participants were selected using purposive sampling method. Overall, 24 interview sessions were held with 22 participants. The minimum duration of an interview was 25 and the maximum was 75 minutes. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Colaizzi`s proposed stages.
Four themes were emerged that could illustrate the perspective of older adults with chronic conditions from the external structure of resilience in particular socio-cultural context of Iranian society. The themes were supportive resources, welfare status, cut-of benefit, and attitude to the elderly patient.
Results of this study revealed important concepts in the structure of resilience in older adult patients with chronic diseases. Our fidings can help health care providers to understand the effective resources on the resilience and comprehensive care planning to grow and increase the resilience among older adults.