Establishing Life Meaningfulness Through Meaning-Making Activities And Practices Related To The Consumption Of Elderly Care Services

Research postulates the importance of life meaningfulness in the formation of existential well-being. For elderly consumers who feel captive to their inevitable need to rely on care services, a loss of life meaningfulness and an experience of upheaval is common and thus puts their well-being at stake. Despite evidence that consumers engage in consumption for personal growth, maintaining well-being and self-worth in response to upheaval, a detailed understanding of the consumption activities and practices in the existential meaning-making processes in the “care recipient life episode” is lacking. In this in-depth interview study, the way elderly consumers adapt in the aftermath of a major life upheaval that is instigated by the need to utilize care services, which meaningful goals and experiences they formulate to uphold personal well-being, and how they pursue their goals by means of different consumption practices have been explored. A social practices lens was utilized to expand the understanding of elderly consumers’ individual pursuits in adapting to the care service culture. The study contributes to research on the consumption of aging populations and adds to the understanding of consumption practices in the care service context. Globally, a growing need for long-term care is expected, which puts pressure on aligning existing care systems with the growing demand for care services and improving quality of care. With regards to these goals, this research advances the understanding of the transformative impact of consumption practices in care services that pose an integral part of everyday life for elderly consumers and their care networks.