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miami1183660563.pdf (356.88 KB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
FRAILTY: MEANINGFUL CONCEPT OR CONCEPTUAL MUDDLE?
Author Info
Brunk, Jennifer M.
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1183660563
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2007, Master of Gerontological Studies, Miami University, Gerontology.
Abstract
Aging researchers frequently study “frail” elders, though the meaning of frailty remains largely ambiguous. To explore what “frailty” means, I qualitatively interviewed three nursing home residents about their thoughts on frailty and examined published literary narratives on experiences with aging, illness and disability. “Frailty” is a “catch-all” term used in the literature to refer to a web of physical, mental or emotional instability, age and presence of disability. However, it is an empty term in that it fails to capture personal experiences. The individuals we call “frail” do not identify themselves as “frail” because their experiences with asserting independence in the face of dependency and burden lend substance and story to their lives. Being “frail” involves striking a balance between resisting and accepting dependency, although this balance is disrupted by physicians’ duty to treat the "disease" rather than the person, further perpetuating the notion that “frail” individuals are inherently dependent.
Committee
Lisa Groger (Advisor)
Pages
60 p.
Keywords
frail
;
frailty
;
definitions of frailty
;
personal experience
;
dependency
;
identity
;
qualitative
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Citations
Brunk, J. M. (2007).
FRAILTY: MEANINGFUL CONCEPT OR CONCEPTUAL MUDDLE?
[Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1183660563
APA Style (7th edition)
Brunk, Jennifer.
FRAILTY: MEANINGFUL CONCEPT OR CONCEPTUAL MUDDLE?
2007. Miami University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1183660563.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Brunk, Jennifer. "FRAILTY: MEANINGFUL CONCEPT OR CONCEPTUAL MUDDLE?" Master's thesis, Miami University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1183660563
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
miami1183660563
Download Count:
1,093
Copyright Info
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.