Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
The Research Platform for Collaboration for Health, Faculty of Health Science, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
Int J Older People Nurs. 2019 Mar;14(1):e12213. doi: 10.1111/opn.12213. Epub 2018 Nov 7.
The aim of this study was to describe how EL was eased, as narrated by frail older people.
Existential loneliness (EL) is an unavoidable part of the human condition. It is a complex phenomenon that has been described as disconnection from life. If EL is acknowledged in the care of older people, the experience of EL can be reduced.
In this qualitative study, we used an exploratory and descriptive design.
The study was based on 22 narrative interviews with frail older people, 76 to 101 years old, who were receiving long-term care and services. We analysed the data using conventional content analysis.
Being acknowledged by others, that is, being the focus of others' concern, eased the experience of EL, as did encountering intimacy and having meaningful exchanges of thoughts and feelings. Further, EL was pushed into the background and eased when participants could bracket negative thoughts and feelings, that is, when they could adjust and accept the present situation, view life in the rear-view mirror, be in contact with spiritual dimensions and withdraw and distract themselves.
Existential loneliness can be eased by experiencing meaningful togetherness with others and oneself when something else comes to the forefront, pushing EL to the background. Frail older peoples' opportunities to ease EL may be facilitated by health care staff (HCS) providing person-centred care and create possibilities for solitary time and meaningful togetherness.
If frail older people's ongoing processes of adjusting and accepting their situation are understood and confirmed by people in their environment, for example, by nurses, family and friends, the experience of living a meaningful life can be supported, which, in turn, can ease EL.
本研究旨在描述体弱老年人所叙述的如何缓解存在孤独感。
存在孤独感（EL）是人类状况中不可避免的一部分。它是一种复杂的现象，被描述为与生活脱节。如果在老年人的护理中认识到存在孤独感，就可以减少其体验。
在这项定性研究中，我们使用了探索性和描述性设计。
该研究基于 22 名体弱老年人的叙述性访谈，年龄在 76 岁至 101 岁之间，他们正在接受长期护理和服务。我们使用常规内容分析对数据进行分析。
被他人认可，即成为他人关注的焦点，缓解了 EL 的体验，同时还遇到了亲密关系，并进行了有意义的思想和情感交流。此外，当参与者能够抑制消极的想法和感受时，即当他们能够调整和接受现状，回顾过去的生活，接触精神层面并转移注意力时，EL 就会被推到幕后并得到缓解。
当有其他事情成为焦点时，通过与他人和自己体验有意义的共处，EL 可以得到缓解。医疗保健人员（HCS）提供以患者为中心的护理，并为孤独时间和有意义的共处创造可能性，可以为体弱老年人缓解 EL 提供便利。
如果环境中的人，例如护士、家人和朋友，理解并确认体弱老年人不断调整和接受现状的过程，那么他们过上有意义的生活的体验就可以得到支持，从而缓解存在孤独感。
