PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore in depth the essential structure and meaning of disease experience for the elderly living alone with Parkinson disease, and provide basic data and grounds for national and social support measures and nursing intervention development for them.
METHODS
In this study, van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was applied, and data were collected from April to September 2015. Participants were 12 elderly people aged over 65 who live alone in Chungcheongnam-do and Daejeon Metropolitan City and have Parkinson disease. Data were collected until saturation through in-depth interviews and participant observations.
RESULTS
Through analysis of the experience of participants of this study, 7 essential themes and 18 investigated themes were derived in the 4 existing bodies of world of life that they experienced. “Can't accept the disease that came after a hard life”, “Catch the hopes”, “Feel painful body and soul because my body does not move at will”, “Want life and death without pain anymore”, “Don't want to reveal my disease to others”, “Look for something to rely on and to feel secure”, and “Want to return the helps that I received from others” were derived.
CONCLUSION
It is suggested that nursing providers must provide individualized nursing intervention, which the elderly living alone with Parkinson disease truly need, through deep sympathy for their disease experience.

Citations

• The lived experience of health-management in patients with Parkinson’s disease
  Hye Gyeong Son, Hyun-Joo Park, Sang Jin Kim, A-Leum Han
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2020; 26(4): 423.     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing Depression: Comparison between Elders Living Alone and Elders Not Living Alone
  Sun-Ae Kim, Myoungjin Kwon, Kawoun Seo
  Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing.2019; 21(2): 51.     CrossRef