"I´m the one who has written this": reciprocity in writing courses for older adults in Norway

Purpose: The aim of this article is to explore, theoretically and empirically, the reciprocity of care afforded by writing courses as community interventions for older adults. Methods: We narratively analyzed 209 excerpts of the anthology "I´m the one who has written this" written by teach...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being 2019-01, Vol.14 (1), p.1650586-1650586
Main Authors: Lehmann, Olga V., Brinkmann, Svend
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aging
Anthologies
Curriculum
Dementia
Empirical Studies
existential meaning
Female
Health care policy
Humans
Intervention
journaling
Male
meaning-making
Memory
Motivation
Narration
Norway
older adults
Older people
Otherness
Qualitative research
Reciprocity
self-exploration
Teachers
togetherness
Writing
Writing course
Writing instruction
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Summary:Purpose: The aim of this article is to explore, theoretically and empirically, the reciprocity of care afforded by writing courses as community interventions for older adults. Methods: We narratively analyzed 209 excerpts of the anthology "I´m the one who has written this" written by teachers and participants of courses organized by the Church City Mission in Norway. Results: The reciprocity that appeared in the writing courses is grounded in the sense of vulnerability that both teachers and participants embraced, and that is experienced in three main relational movements that these writing courses convey: self-exploration, otherness and togetherness. In addition, the data suggests that these courses promote affective processing and existential meaning-making, motivation, as well as improvements of memory and attention. However, more research is needed to confirm these preliminary findings, and their possible effects in older adults with and without symptoms of dementia. Conclusion: Even though these writing courses for older adults are not explicitly therapeutic, they can have therapeutic effects, given the reciprocity afforded in these cultural community interventions. A theoretical exploration upon reciprocity in eldercare is hereby provided. These findings could shape improvements in aging and health care policies that are person-centered and focus on reciprocity.
ISSN:1748-2631
1748-2623
1748-2631
DOI:10.1080/17482631.2019.1650586