Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 490
Surprisingly few studies have explored the use of complementary medicine in older persons and research is often restricted to those able to afford private treatment. The present study explores the experiences of using subsidised complementary health care amongst older people from mixed social and ethnic backgrounds.
Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 regular attendees of a single centre providing subsidised complementary health care for the over-60s. The sample was randomly drawn from the patient register. The transcripts were analysed for recurring themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).
Preliminary analysis reveals the wide impact of the complementary healthcare package on the lives of this group of older people. Although suffering from chronic complaints, participants reported improvements in pain, mobility and psychological health. Treatment facilitated perceptions of control over health and strengthened coping resources. This had a concomitant impact on their relationship with others and their ability to cope with stress. Having the time to discuss health and social issues formed a key therapeutic function and was highly valued by participants. Overall, satisfaction with the service was high and participants felt that such treatment should be more widely available for others in need.
The results are discussed within the context of wider social and cultural factors. The findings suggest that low-cost complementary health care provides a valuable means of improving quality of life in older people with limited financial resources. This has implications for the provision of affordable complementary healthcare services for older people with complex health needs.
