Living alone with dementia: an interpretive phenomenological study with older women

AIM: This paper is a report of a study of the meaning of living alone from the perspective of older people with dementia. BACKGROUND: Risks and problems experienced by older women living alone have been investigated mostly through quantitative research. Balancing their safety and autonomy is a serious international community care dilemma. Older people's perspectives have been muted in qualitative research on living alone with dementia.