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| Themes | Subthemes | Representative statements |
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| Physical function | Body is like a machine; its deterioration is unstoppable and irreversible | “When a man grows old everything changes. Your movement slows down. Your energy diminishes. The heavy loads you lift up at youth will overwhelm you at your old age. Your mind is willing but your body fails to follow.” “If the feet of the elderly have no strength, then they will fall easily. That is why we say the feet get old faster than the person.” |
| The realization of aging is not welcomed, and some tended to be fatalistic about physical deterioration | “When the machine turns old, it cannot be successful.” “A person’s life is full of ups and downs and contrary to your expectation of being cordial and friendly, it often turns sour and empty. Therefore, we need to have an empty philosophy of life and accept our fate.” |
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| Psychological well-being | High spirits help promote a healthy body. Body, soul, and mind are inseparable entities | “Our life goes through birth, old age, illness, and death. The key is whether we are happy or not.” “The most important treasure in a man’s life is health. A healthy spirit can promote and lead to a good and healthy physique.” |
| The experience of loneliness and boredom tend to be common, and may lead to distressed situations | “I feel that the neighbors around us are lonely. I see they are bored. Their mobility is handicapped, and they appear like they are sitting inside a prison.” “I feel the most terrible thing for old people is to be left alone.” |
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| Social support | Family support is most desirable and valued. However, it is not always available. Participants are ill-prepared to adjust to the cultural and generational changes compounded by immigration impact | “If your son and daughter-in-law are kind to you, you naturally feel happy. Even if you do not have money, you still feel happy. But if they are bad to you, you will not feel good even if you have money. Even if you live in the elderly apartments, you would go downstairs to stir your complaints, and you would still feel bad.” “My understanding is that for most people, their sons and daughters do not concern about their parents. That is due to the influence in America. It is to take care of yourself only.” |
| Community service center becomes the resource for support | “Introduce them (bored older adults) to join activity programs (in the community service center). Whatever their preference, let them join that type of activities such as exercise Taichi, singing, dancing, painting, and many other programs. Or let them vent and voice their complaints. It helps to have an outlet.” |
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| Cognitive function | Impaired cognitive function is perceived as a health concern, in which dementia is most severe and brings shame and burden to the family | “Sometimes I keep looking for something for an hour without success. When I finally find it, it is right under my nose. I put it in my pocket. A moment later, I look for it again. This happens again and again.” “I believe that in a non-Chinese family, members in the family would no doubt bring family members who suffer from dementia to see a doctor. But we Chinese who love to save face, always try to solve the problems at home. Chinese would not let other people know about the condition of the patients, such as uncontrollable urination and bowel movement.” “You might not agree with me. But I would rather swallow a pill and die as long as it is not too painful. Everybody has to die. Why bother people too much? Swallow a pill and pass away in your sleep.” |
| Although cognitive impairment may come with age, practices could prevent impairment by conforming to exercises and practices | “I realize that as we approach old age, degenerating is unavoidable. But you can do something to slow down the process. Force yourself to exercise your brain to keep your mind sharp.” “I think exercise is very important. Exercise should be a part of our daily lives. Use your head to think. Use your imagination. Read more books. Read newspapers. Play mahjong.” |
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