Abstract:

Current trends toward the proactive pursuit of good health have led to an increasing interest in the influence of social integration on an individual's health maintenance behavior, particularly as an indicator of aging well. This emphasis is based on the hypothesis that family, social groups, & interactions with medical professionals can contribute to the maintenance of one's health throughout life, especially in the management of age-related chronic illness. Reported here is a pilot study based on a conceptual framework presenting exercise adherence as a form of self-care in managing arthritis, the most prevalent chronic condition found among the elderly. Consistent physical activity has been found to arrest the trajectory of disability in arthritis. In addition, exercise can empower the individual to take a proactive approach to self-care. Unfortunately, arthritis sufferers rarely achieve adherence to an exercise regimen. Attempting to understand why a person might not exercise to improve quality of life, all aspects of social integration as it influences self-care in chronic illness management are explored.