Focus Group Interviews

Of the group of people we talked to in Guthrie Center, I feel that the main expressions of environmental press for most of the individuals were the stairs and the bathrooms. Many of the participants had showers in their basements, which meant they had to travel up and down the stairs to bathe. For most, this is not currently a problem, but could pose big problems in the future. Several individuals also stated that they only have bath tubs on their main floor and getting in and out could be problem. The overall consensus was that they would prefer a shower. Many of them also had some environmental press issues with their outdoor care and have people who help them with that. The women also said that they need window washers.

The group of women in Bayard had environment press problems with arthritis and bending and reaching. They said that they would like to have things handy so they wouldn’t have to reach, especially in the kitchen. Two of the three women also said that their houses were large and a lot to take care of. For the most part, they didn’t seem to have too much environmental press.

I feel both groups were aging quite successfully, those in Guthrie Center and Bayard. Most all of them seemed happy and enjoyed getting out and talking with people. They were a very pleasant group to talk to. They didn’t have many complaints or worries. They seemed to be able to do most everything for themselves.

One thing I would question is that the people who we talked to were people who could get out and do things. They are probably fairly independent people. Those people that might have more environmental press and less successful aging would be those who would tend not to be at a senior center. They are probably in their homes and less likely to get out and have a social network. I would be interested to talk to some seniors in Guthrie county who are maybe more like the house-bound individuals described in our text. They might be able to give use some new and different insights.

The people we talked with who got along the best seemed to be those with accommodations on the first floor. The main problem the elderly seemed to talk about was the bathroom. Many have showers in their basement which is a problem because of the stairs. Some have bath tubs upstairs, but that is just as much of a problem trying to get in and out of them. Another problem that deals with stairs is the laundry. Some had moved their laundry to a porch so they wouldn’t have to fight the stairs.

In our text we studied the definition of "consciousness of choice"...the realization that there are options. The questions we asked in Guthrie County showed that the elderly there knew their options pretty well. The majority in Guthrie Center considered nursing homes as a last resort. When asked if they would consider moving in with their children, they thought that it was a bad idea. There were two reasons behind their decision. The first was that they didn’t want to burden their children and they wanted their children to have their own lives. The second was that they didn’t want to leave their homes or their communities. They have their friends around them and that is what keeps them going. If they were to move in with their children, they would have to leave Guthrie County because the majority of the children have moved around and are other places in the country. The other options they have considered are retirement apartments. Many have been built not to accommodate the mobility needs of the elderly. The people we spoke to really preferred to stay in their own homes and to keep living how they always have.

Wilma, from Guthrie Center was a good example of "successful aging." She is quite happy with her home. She remodeled her home 5 years ago and everything that she needs is located on the first floor, including her washer and dryer. She has a grandson who lives with her who stays in one of the upstairs bedrooms and a daughter or granddaughter who uses the other one.

She has two living rooms, but uses only one except for on holidays or card parties. The conversation indicated that she entertains or shares holidays with family and friends. She also has card parties in her home which indicates that she has a social life.

Wilma does not drive either but lives near the center of town so things are within walking distance, including activities at the community center. James, who appears to be her companion, takes her for groceries. I’m guessing that they spend a lot of time together. Family members also provide transportation when needed.

It would appear that she has a home that is accessible, and family and friends who care about her. She has adjusted to her physical limitations and is able to maintain an independent lifestyle.

In my opinion, both groups from Guthrie County were representative of successful aging. Guthrie Center is an example of the advantage of aging in rural America. It is obvious that there is a large social network of elderly individuals in this area. They all appear to be in the community by "choice." Although most seem to have children who have left the area, they all seem to have contact with their children. They have social activities, dancing, card playing, visiting, volunteer work, hobbies and some still garden and dabble in farming. The women not present at the community center on the day of the interview were off visiting tearooms in the area.

Some residents purchased homes when they moved into town when they were in their 60s. Some have remodeled or made changes to make their homes easier to manage. All seem to be able to do quite well in their homes. They are all socially active and have been able to maintain superior levels of functioning and activities by making changes in their housing, adapting to their disabilities, substituting new activities for work, etc. and overall, appear to experience a high quality of life. However, these are the people that are not homebound and are still in relatively good health for their age. I can’t help but wonder about the population that can’t make it down to the community center.

THIS SECTION IS A NICE ADDITION TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY IN GUTHRIE COUNTY. BECAUSE YOU "LIFTED IT" FROM ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA TO EDIT IT...PERHAPS ORGANIZING THE IDEAS AROUND THE THEMES THAT EMERGED FROM THE FOCUS GROUPS. AS IT READS NOW, FOR ANYONE BUT THE INSTRUCTOR, IT IS HARD TO FOLLOW AND UNDERSTAND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE OVERALL REPORT.

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