Health Promotion and Senior Women With Limited Incomes

Health promotion is increasingly being recognized as making an important contribution to the well-being of Canada's seniors. Most research relating to this topic, however, has focused on middle-income senior men and women. An exploratory study using ethnographic methods was conducted to explore and describe the health promotion experience of senior women living on limited incomes. Interviews with a total of 11 urban senior women living on limited incomes were analyzed. A major finding of this study was that the women utilized a wide variety of "ways of living" that are presented in the model, Health Promotion as Self Nurturance. Health promotion was perceived to be influenced by living on a limited income by most participants; however, 3 of the participants believed that their health status and income level were unrelated. Findings are discussed and implications for community health nurses are offered.