Spinal cord injury and aging: the everyday process of self-managing health and function

Background: Older adults are experiencing increased rates of spinal cord injury (SCI), and those with SCI are living longer. Many older adults with SCI experience secondary health complications, and aging can intensify these health challenges. Self-management is a promising practice for addressing suboptimal health outcomes experienced by older adults with SCI. Research Objective: Using an ecological lens, this research aimed to understand how older adults with SCI self-manage their health in the community. Methods: This study conducted a subset and supplementary secondary analysis of qualitative semi-structured interview data, guided by a constructivist grounded theory approach. Findings: The findings highlight processual aspects of self-management within the daily context including how everyday tasks and activities had a formative effect on health, how practices embodied health perspectives, and how extrinsic factors impacted health. Conclusion: Self-management programs and policies would benefit from integrating an ecological approach and using patient-centered and relational care practices.