Rural and urban older adults' perspectives of strength in their daily lives

Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand older adults' perspectives of strength in their daily lives.

Background: Maintaining strength is important as the population ages and many older adults live into their 80s and 90s. Few studies have explored older adults' views of strength and its management as they age.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. The sample consisted of 5 focus groups (n = 41) that participated in semistructured interviews. Transcribed data were analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Results: Three themes emerged-the capacity to meet variable demands, changes in strength, and strategies to stay strong.

Conclusions: Older adults regard strength as an integration of physical and internal capacities for meeting a range of demands and use physical, mental, and social activities for staying strong. Nurses have an important role in helping older adults focus on strength and their abilities rather than inabilities to enhance healthy aging.