Achieving active aging of older people with gratitude, independence, and government support—A biographical narrative approach

Abstract

This article aims to explore the perspectives and experiences of elderly individuals in Korea regarding active aging in their daily lives. The research utilizes Schütze's biographical narrative approach and involves six participants, comprising two males and four females aged between 73 and 82. The data collected undergoes analysis using Schütze's six-step biographical narrative analysis method, resulting in the following key findings. The first significant finding in their biographical stories is that participants have gone through poverty, lack of education, economic activity, early marriage, dedicated child-rearing, and the challenging times in Korea following the end of Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War. Secondly, the study discovered that older people could achieve a balanced and active life obtained from the love of family and friends, sincere faith, enjoyable social activities, precious jobs, and safety concerns by adopting a positive and appreciative approach toward life. The study's third finding highlights that older individuals wish to be self-reliant, value government benefits, seek more economic opportunities, and need better social services to assist them during their vulnerable later years for active aging. Therefore, the thesis recommends that the Korean government provide older individuals with expanded healthcare management, caregiving services, and employment opportunities.