Lived experience of compatibility with aging in the old-old and oldest-old population

An important feature of the aging period is compatibility with physical, psychological and social changes. Due to the various challenges that arise from late adulthood to aging, aging is defined as a process that requires continuous compatibility.

The population of this qualitative study was selected among the elderly of Yazd City using content analysis. In 2018, purposive sampling was continued until data saturation. Data were collected through 52 semi-structured interviews, of which 26 (13 women and 13 men) with the older adults and 26 (13 women and 13 men) with the oldest old population. The data were analyzed simultaneously with data collection via qualitative content method and Colaizzi's analysis.

Data analysis led to the identification and extraction of two themes or categories that reflected the experiences of the old-old and oldest-old population toward compatibility with aging and included two categories of efficient and inefficient compatibility.

The old-old and oldest-old men and women believe that receiving financial assistance and welfare services from government institutions is considered a useful compatibility, which is further emphasized with aging and entering in to the aging.