Factors associated with the self-care of home-dwelling elderly

The purpose of this study was to examine how functional capacity, activitie s of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), li fe satisfaction and self-esteem are related to the self-care behaviour styl es of home-dwelling elderly persons. Data were collected by qualitative int erviews (self-care) and structured interviews (functional capacity, life sa tisfaction and self-esteem) from home-dwelling elderly persons (n = 40) age d 75 or more. The persons were living in a medium-sized city in northern Fi nland. The qualitative data were analysed using deductive content analysis. The classification frame consisted of a theoretical classification develop ed in an earlier study. The categories were quantified and the relationship between the variables analysed by cross-tabulation. The persons whose self -care behaviour style was responsible, formally guided or independent carri ed out their daily activities without assistance from others, while those w ho showed abandoned self-care did not manage their daily activities without help. Life satisfaction was the highest among the formally guided persons and self-esteem among the responsible ones. Poor life satisfaction and self -esteem correlated with abandoned self-care behaviour.