Illustration of older people’s various life goals which determine well-being in one’s lifeworld.
| Life goals . | Descriptiona . | Quote . |
|---|---|---|
| Self-continuity | To sense connection between one’s past, present and/or future self (e.g. upbringing, culture, religion, habits, etc.) | ‘They put a chair around the corner [of the apartment in the nursing home], because there’s a small patch of sunlight that shines here. And my mother is used to in her old house—she always sat in her spot with a sunbeam.’ (Caregiver of P23, severely frail) |
| Self-development | To achieve personal growth or experience new things (e.g. new knowledge or skills) | ‘When that task is completed [volunteer activity], I have a hunger for something new, and also a hunger for knowledge.’ (P12, mildly frail) |
| Autonomy | To have freedom to decide for oneself and to control one’s own actions | ‘Because I can do the things I want to do, you know. I don’t have any obligations. I don’t want that. I don’t want that anymore. I go swimming every Thursday. Nobody should interfere with my Thursday. No.’ (P18, severely frail) |
| Self-reliance | To depend on oneself and one’s own abilities to do things [e.g. in (instrumental) activities of daily living] | ‘That I can still do things and still ride a bike and go grocery shopping on the bike and go to a dance party and go crazy.’ (P1, fit) |
| Staying healthy | To feel as healthy as much as possible (e.g. bodily functions, by being fit, thinking clearly and relieving symptoms) | ‘I need to retain my cognitive capacities. […] If I can no longer recognize them [his family members], then I am a vegetable and I do not want to live as a vegetable.’ (P4, fit) |
| Freedom of movement | To have a certain degree of mobility and life space | ‘I would find it very distressing if I could no longer go outside, that would be the worst. I experience so much on the street. […] And I can also take the bus, which is right out front’ (P11, mildly frail) |
| Social connectedness | To feel connected to others by meaningful interactions, a sense of belonging or support | ‘I do the shopping […] You meet people, you get out. I find that very important. That you keep in touch with the outside world. […] you feel a bit dignified, that you still matter, that’s what it’s all about.’ (P17, severely frail) |
| Contributing something | To be meaningful or relevant to others or society (e.g. by being there or giving support) | ‘I have that neighbour downstairs, whom I read to. […] You can mean something to each other. Even if it’s just reading aloud for a bit or playing a game with someone.’ (P21, severely frail) |
| Not burdening others | To not trouble others with something that one regards unpleasant or difficult | ‘I have told my children: If I can’t do anything anymore, I won’t bother anyone, not even the children. I’ll stay somewhere in a care home. Whatever I get there, I’ll eat everything.’ (P5, fit) |
| Financial resources | To have financial resources to fund one’s needs and wishes | ‘And we also had a day with that wheelchair taxi, a day at the sea. I also find that so wonderful. […] it costs money and time, but it’s really nice.’ (P20, severely frail) |
| Living conditions | To live in a home and immediate surroundings with certain standards | ‘I was supposed to go to the fourteenth [floor], up there. But there are no living rooms there. And I did want a living room to sit together cosily.’ (P26, severely frail) |
| Life goals . | Descriptiona . | Quote . |
|---|---|---|
| Self-continuity | To sense connection between one’s past, present and/or future self (e.g. upbringing, culture, religion, habits, etc.) | ‘They put a chair around the corner [of the apartment in the nursing home], because there’s a small patch of sunlight that shines here. And my mother is used to in her old house—she always sat in her spot with a sunbeam.’ (Caregiver of P23, severely frail) |
| Self-development | To achieve personal growth or experience new things (e.g. new knowledge or skills) | ‘When that task is completed [volunteer activity], I have a hunger for something new, and also a hunger for knowledge.’ (P12, mildly frail) |
| Autonomy | To have freedom to decide for oneself and to control one’s own actions | ‘Because I can do the things I want to do, you know. I don’t have any obligations. I don’t want that. I don’t want that anymore. I go swimming every Thursday. Nobody should interfere with my Thursday. No.’ (P18, severely frail) |
| Self-reliance | To depend on oneself and one’s own abilities to do things [e.g. in (instrumental) activities of daily living] | ‘That I can still do things and still ride a bike and go grocery shopping on the bike and go to a dance party and go crazy.’ (P1, fit) |
| Staying healthy | To feel as healthy as much as possible (e.g. bodily functions, by being fit, thinking clearly and relieving symptoms) | ‘I need to retain my cognitive capacities. […] If I can no longer recognize them [his family members], then I am a vegetable and I do not want to live as a vegetable.’ (P4, fit) |
| Freedom of movement | To have a certain degree of mobility and life space | ‘I would find it very distressing if I could no longer go outside, that would be the worst. I experience so much on the street. […] And I can also take the bus, which is right out front’ (P11, mildly frail) |
| Social connectedness | To feel connected to others by meaningful interactions, a sense of belonging or support | ‘I do the shopping […] You meet people, you get out. I find that very important. That you keep in touch with the outside world. […] you feel a bit dignified, that you still matter, that’s what it’s all about.’ (P17, severely frail) |
| Contributing something | To be meaningful or relevant to others or society (e.g. by being there or giving support) | ‘I have that neighbour downstairs, whom I read to. […] You can mean something to each other. Even if it’s just reading aloud for a bit or playing a game with someone.’ (P21, severely frail) |
| Not burdening others | To not trouble others with something that one regards unpleasant or difficult | ‘I have told my children: If I can’t do anything anymore, I won’t bother anyone, not even the children. I’ll stay somewhere in a care home. Whatever I get there, I’ll eat everything.’ (P5, fit) |
| Financial resources | To have financial resources to fund one’s needs and wishes | ‘And we also had a day with that wheelchair taxi, a day at the sea. I also find that so wonderful. […] it costs money and time, but it’s really nice.’ (P20, severely frail) |
| Living conditions | To live in a home and immediate surroundings with certain standards | ‘I was supposed to go to the fourteenth [floor], up there. But there are no living rooms there. And I did want a living room to sit together cosily.’ (P26, severely frail) |
Notes: aThe descriptions clarify the common ground of quotes that were coded and categorised within a life goal. These categories emerged from the data and were sometimes in line with literature that was known to the researchers beforehand [13, 24].
Illustration of older people’s various life goals which determine well-being in one’s lifeworld.
| Life goals . | Descriptiona . | Quote . |
|---|---|---|
| Self-continuity | To sense connection between one’s past, present and/or future self (e.g. upbringing, culture, religion, habits, etc.) | ‘They put a chair around the corner [of the apartment in the nursing home], because there’s a small patch of sunlight that shines here. And my mother is used to in her old house—she always sat in her spot with a sunbeam.’ (Caregiver of P23, severely frail) |
| Self-development | To achieve personal growth or experience new things (e.g. new knowledge or skills) | ‘When that task is completed [volunteer activity], I have a hunger for something new, and also a hunger for knowledge.’ (P12, mildly frail) |
| Autonomy | To have freedom to decide for oneself and to control one’s own actions | ‘Because I can do the things I want to do, you know. I don’t have any obligations. I don’t want that. I don’t want that anymore. I go swimming every Thursday. Nobody should interfere with my Thursday. No.’ (P18, severely frail) |
| Self-reliance | To depend on oneself and one’s own abilities to do things [e.g. in (instrumental) activities of daily living] | ‘That I can still do things and still ride a bike and go grocery shopping on the bike and go to a dance party and go crazy.’ (P1, fit) |
| Staying healthy | To feel as healthy as much as possible (e.g. bodily functions, by being fit, thinking clearly and relieving symptoms) | ‘I need to retain my cognitive capacities. […] If I can no longer recognize them [his family members], then I am a vegetable and I do not want to live as a vegetable.’ (P4, fit) |
| Freedom of movement | To have a certain degree of mobility and life space | ‘I would find it very distressing if I could no longer go outside, that would be the worst. I experience so much on the street. […] And I can also take the bus, which is right out front’ (P11, mildly frail) |
| Social connectedness | To feel connected to others by meaningful interactions, a sense of belonging or support | ‘I do the shopping […] You meet people, you get out. I find that very important. That you keep in touch with the outside world. […] you feel a bit dignified, that you still matter, that’s what it’s all about.’ (P17, severely frail) |
| Contributing something | To be meaningful or relevant to others or society (e.g. by being there or giving support) | ‘I have that neighbour downstairs, whom I read to. […] You can mean something to each other. Even if it’s just reading aloud for a bit or playing a game with someone.’ (P21, severely frail) |
| Not burdening others | To not trouble others with something that one regards unpleasant or difficult | ‘I have told my children: If I can’t do anything anymore, I won’t bother anyone, not even the children. I’ll stay somewhere in a care home. Whatever I get there, I’ll eat everything.’ (P5, fit) |
| Financial resources | To have financial resources to fund one’s needs and wishes | ‘And we also had a day with that wheelchair taxi, a day at the sea. I also find that so wonderful. […] it costs money and time, but it’s really nice.’ (P20, severely frail) |
| Living conditions | To live in a home and immediate surroundings with certain standards | ‘I was supposed to go to the fourteenth [floor], up there. But there are no living rooms there. And I did want a living room to sit together cosily.’ (P26, severely frail) |
| Life goals . | Descriptiona . | Quote . |
|---|---|---|
| Self-continuity | To sense connection between one’s past, present and/or future self (e.g. upbringing, culture, religion, habits, etc.) | ‘They put a chair around the corner [of the apartment in the nursing home], because there’s a small patch of sunlight that shines here. And my mother is used to in her old house—she always sat in her spot with a sunbeam.’ (Caregiver of P23, severely frail) |
| Self-development | To achieve personal growth or experience new things (e.g. new knowledge or skills) | ‘When that task is completed [volunteer activity], I have a hunger for something new, and also a hunger for knowledge.’ (P12, mildly frail) |
| Autonomy | To have freedom to decide for oneself and to control one’s own actions | ‘Because I can do the things I want to do, you know. I don’t have any obligations. I don’t want that. I don’t want that anymore. I go swimming every Thursday. Nobody should interfere with my Thursday. No.’ (P18, severely frail) |
| Self-reliance | To depend on oneself and one’s own abilities to do things [e.g. in (instrumental) activities of daily living] | ‘That I can still do things and still ride a bike and go grocery shopping on the bike and go to a dance party and go crazy.’ (P1, fit) |
| Staying healthy | To feel as healthy as much as possible (e.g. bodily functions, by being fit, thinking clearly and relieving symptoms) | ‘I need to retain my cognitive capacities. […] If I can no longer recognize them [his family members], then I am a vegetable and I do not want to live as a vegetable.’ (P4, fit) |
| Freedom of movement | To have a certain degree of mobility and life space | ‘I would find it very distressing if I could no longer go outside, that would be the worst. I experience so much on the street. […] And I can also take the bus, which is right out front’ (P11, mildly frail) |
| Social connectedness | To feel connected to others by meaningful interactions, a sense of belonging or support | ‘I do the shopping […] You meet people, you get out. I find that very important. That you keep in touch with the outside world. […] you feel a bit dignified, that you still matter, that’s what it’s all about.’ (P17, severely frail) |
| Contributing something | To be meaningful or relevant to others or society (e.g. by being there or giving support) | ‘I have that neighbour downstairs, whom I read to. […] You can mean something to each other. Even if it’s just reading aloud for a bit or playing a game with someone.’ (P21, severely frail) |
| Not burdening others | To not trouble others with something that one regards unpleasant or difficult | ‘I have told my children: If I can’t do anything anymore, I won’t bother anyone, not even the children. I’ll stay somewhere in a care home. Whatever I get there, I’ll eat everything.’ (P5, fit) |
| Financial resources | To have financial resources to fund one’s needs and wishes | ‘And we also had a day with that wheelchair taxi, a day at the sea. I also find that so wonderful. […] it costs money and time, but it’s really nice.’ (P20, severely frail) |
| Living conditions | To live in a home and immediate surroundings with certain standards | ‘I was supposed to go to the fourteenth [floor], up there. But there are no living rooms there. And I did want a living room to sit together cosily.’ (P26, severely frail) |
Notes: aThe descriptions clarify the common ground of quotes that were coded and categorised within a life goal. These categories emerged from the data and were sometimes in line with literature that was known to the researchers beforehand [13, 24].
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