Views on the use of the term ‘elder orphans’: A qualitative study

Abstract

Older adults living alone in the community with no immediate family network or support are referred in the literature as ‘elder orphans’. The grey literature has a growing emphasis on the importance of supporting this vulnerable group, particularly with health and social care. However, there is a dearth of empirical research on ‘elder orphans’, and definitions remained semantically complicated and unknown to the public, healthcare professionals and those being referred as elder orphans. This research explored the views of older adults on the use of the terminology ‘elder orphans’, and the implications of using the terminology in health and social care systems. A descriptive qualitative approach through face‐to‐face interviews of 11 older adults was undertaken in Auckland, New Zealand in October 2018. Narratives were analysed using thematic analysis. Two themes were identified from the analysis of interview data. The first theme was ‘realistic and practical term’, which emphasised the participants’ impression of the term ‘elder orphan’ resonating to themselves with great relevance to their current and future situations. The second theme is ‘visibility and vulnerability’, which highlighted participants’ both positive and ambivalent views on the use of the terminology in healthcare settings. The participants viewed this terminology as beneficial to alerting care services, and in promoting awareness among healthcare providers. Older adults from the study, who are living alone without immediate family networks and support self‐identified themselves as ‘elder orphans’ through a gradual realisation of their current and anticipated social situations. The use of the term within healthcare was considered and preferred by the participants to be used contextually, and targeted towards appropriate health and social care services within and outside hospital‐care settings.

Vulnerability and quality of life of older persons in the community in different situations of family care

“…The greater physical vulnerability of older females related to factors such as low education and remuneration, loneliness, social isolation and family distancing is described in the literature (21,23) . Support from family care, proximity of people with the maintenance of social networks and access to information can provide a better maintenance of functional capacities, as well as providing a greater guarantee of support in the face of physical, psychological and social needs (24)(25) .…”

(Older) Adults without advocates: Support for alternative terminology to “elder orphan” in research and clinical contexts

“…In a qualitative study exploring the views of elder orphans on the use of this term, Montayre and colleagues found that participants, while initially ambivalent, later identified with the term and acknowledged its utility to alert clinicians of their circumstances and direct services appropriately. 21 It is important to note that participants did not endorse the term's use publicly, but within medical contexts. Some participants expressed embarrassment or dislike of the term, aligning with popular media contesting its use as infantilizing or stigmatizing.…”

From Need to Policy: Community Supported Development and Implementation of the South Carolina Vulnerable Adult Guardian Ad Litem (SC VAGAL) Program

“…Teaster et al (2006) define a vulnerable adult as "a person who is either being mistreated or in danger of mistreatment and who, due to age and/or disability, is unable to protect." However, the definition of a vulnerable adult varies by state (Montayre et al, 2020). Some states place age restrictions with a demarcation between a vulnerable adult and a vulnerable elder.…”