The Meaning of Relocation among Elderly Religious Sisters

The meaning of involuntary, intra-institutional relocation (a move in primary living space) was constructed in this qualitative study through semistructured interviews with 12 elderly religious sisters. A thematic analysis of the data elicited from audiotape-recorded interviews was conducted. Overall, themes emerging from the sisters' discussion of the relocation included relocation as preparation for the future (to ensure their care in advancing years) and possibilities and consequences (resulting in improved living conditions together with sacrifice, uprooting, isolation, and distancing). Although relocation was seen as a largely positive event, it also had negative meaning for the subjects.