Table 1 Characteristics of informants–characteristics are altered to secure anonymity
Name | Sex | Age | Marital status | Chronic health problems | Education and occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arthur* | M | 84 | Married | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sclerosis, heart failure, glaucoma, depression, osteoarthrosis, high blood pressure | Farming: Retired |
Bertha* | F | 81 | Widow | Asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis | Clerical background: Retired |
John* | M | 72 | Single | Heart failure, diabetes | Academic: Retired |
Frida* | F | 69 | Married | Diabetes, high blood pressure | Social assistant: Retired |
Marco* | M | 76 | Married | Terminal pancreas and bladder cancer with dissemination, COPD, heart failure, high blood pressure | Teaching: Retired |
Carl* | M | 77 | Separated | COPD, heart failure, diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis | Draughtsman: Retired |
Mary | F | 59 | Separated | Bipolar, diabetes, migraine | Social assistant: Part-time employment |
Robert | M | 52 | Separated | Diabetes, reduced vision, neuropathy in feet, osteoarthritis, chronic pain in hips, liver cirrhosis, depression | Self-employed clerical background: Early retirement |
Daniel | M | 48 | Partner | Diabetes, hypothyroidism, ADHD | Workman: Part-time lightweight duties |
Laura | F | 39 | Single | Schizophrenia, psoriasis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | Unskilled: Early retirement |
James | M | 52 | Married | Chronic back pain after a traffic accident, depression, anxiety, PTSD | Workman: Early retirement |
Thomas | M | 61 | Married | Depression, chronic back pain, osteoporosis, COPD, asthma, heart failure, cataracts, bladder control problems | Service-sector: Early retirement |
Peter | M | 49 | Partner | ADHD, depression, anxiety, herniated disc with chronic back pain after job-related accident, psoriasis arthritis | Unskilled labourer: Early retirement |
Amanda | F | 69 | Single | Colitis ulcerous, osteoarthritis, depression, general pain, hidrasadenitis suppurativa, (chronic skin condition with abscesses) | Unskilled: Retired |
William | M | 60 | Separated | Osteoarthritis, heart failure, physical limitations after cerebral thrombus, herniated disc, asthma, COPD, eczema | Unskilled labourer: Early retirement |