“To Work Just Like Anyone Else”—A Narrative from a Man Aging with Spinal Cord Injury

Healthcare, 2017 · DOI: 10.3390/healthcare5040087 · Published: November 9, 2017

Simple Explanation

The study explores how a man with a spinal cord injury (SCI) experiences meaning in his daily activities as he ages. It looks at his life story, focusing on his experiences, thoughts, and reflections on the importance of work and managing his aging body. The man's story reveals challenges like secondary health complications and the need to adjust his work life due to physical limitations. It also addresses how a lack of support from social systems can negatively impact his ability to find meaning in everyday life. The research suggests that ongoing rehabilitation and better support systems are needed to help people aging with SCI to maintain meaningful activities and a balanced life.

Study Duration

4 years

Participants

1 man in his fifties with SCI for 39 years

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The man's life story is marked by physical decline due to secondary health complications, impacting his ability to work and engage in meaningful activities.
2
Occupational risk factors, such as imbalance, alienation, and deprivation, arise from a lack of rehabilitation and social support, further threatening his health and well-being.
3
Maintaining work is crucial for the man's sense of identity, competence, and social connection, highlighting the importance of work-related meaning in his life.

Research Summary

This study explores the experiences of a man aging with a spinal cord injury (SCI), focusing on how he finds meaning in everyday occupations. The narrative analysis reveals the significance of work in his life and the challenges he faces due to secondary health complications. The man's life story highlights the difficulties of negotiating with an aging body and making choices to continue working. It also addresses how occupational risk factors, such as imbalance and deprivation, can result from a lack of rehabilitation and support. The findings underscore the need for lifelong rehabilitation and well-functioning support systems to help people aging with SCI experience meaning in their occupations and maintain balance in everyday life.

Practical Implications

Lifelong Rehabilitation

Implement ongoing rehabilitation programs with regular follow-ups by a multi-professional team to address secondary health complications and promote participation in meaningful occupations.

Individualized Support Systems

Develop flexible and individualized support systems, including personal assistance, assistive devices, and work arrangements, to accommodate the changing needs of people aging with SCI.

Focus on Meaningful Occupations

Emphasize a client-centered approach that focuses on creating or re-establishing participation and balance among meaningful occupations, considering the individual's values, interests, and goals.

Study Limitations

1
The study is based on a single participant's narrative, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
2
Narrative data is situated within the communicative context in which it is gathered.
3
The results should be viewed in light of the limitation that narrative data is situated within the communicative context in which it is gathered.

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