The experience of ageing and role identity challenges of the elderly: A qualitative research

The demographic trend chart shows the trend of the population toward senility. Therefore, studying and understanding the issues of the elderly is a necessity. The elderly face challenges of role identity as they have been separated from their active and creditable roles. This research was conducted with the aim of understanding the life experiences of the elderly in this respect. This was a qualitative research, in which the phenomenological approach was used. The participants were selected from among the elderly in Kerman, Iran, through purposive sampling (21 participants). In-depth unstructured interviews were the main data collection method. In addition, data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. The main themes obtained were “the feeling of abandonment” and “the feeling of being decontrolled”. The theme of “the feeling of abandonment” consisted of five subthemes consternation, job separation, interaction separation, and economical dependability. The main theme of “the feeling of being decontrolled” consisted of two subthemes of the shattered self and the feeling of closeness of death. The subtheme of the shattered self also consisted of the two subcategories of alienation and the pain of being discredited. This present research provided a new understanding of the experiences of elderly individuals by describing the challenges of role identity. The roots of these challenges, in addition to changes in demographic structure, are in changes in the social structure of our society. Thus, the lack of scheduling and use of appropriate measures to improve this situation will be one of the most important challenges in future decades.