Growing older can be tough. When speaking with O.F who is 82 and Hispanic, she described several different issues she has encountered. O.F. lives in an extremely small, rural town. There is no public transportation and hardly any traffic. Driving is possible in town, but the nearest large city is over an hour away and she can’t drive that far or deal with the traffic. O.F. lives in a single story home that was purchased when she was first married, more than 50 years ago. She loves her home and says she will never leave it. Since the home is dated there are many issues with maintaining the house, but there are many memories and her home is one of the few places she feels comfortable. Currently, O.F. lives alone, her husband passed away more than four years ago. O.F. used to qualify for help at home when her husband was alive. An aid would come to her home for about two hours each day and help her clean, cook, or take her shopping. Once her husband died this assistance was discontinued. O.F. struggles to maintain her home and her independence due to pain and changes in her abilities, but she is adamant that she will do whatever it takes to continue her way of life.
Interview
O.F. discussed many topics during her …show more content…
Onuboga (2014) stated, “The presence or diagnosis of arthritis was found to be associated with depressed moods in people with persistent pain” (p. 102). O.F. said that some days it is even difficult to simply climb out of bed and this causes her to feel depressed. Relying on others to help her is somewhat difficult for O.F. Subsequently, she doesn’t like to discuss or show her pain. To O.F. pain is a weakness, she would rather stay by herself when the pain is intense. Although she won’t ask for help she will take it if forced on her. O.F. doesn’t want to be a burden or bother her family as she