Mental health service users’ experiences of everyday occupations while attending day centres during the transition into retirement age

Background: Existing research has shown that those ageing with severe mental illness face significant challenges in daily life. Attendance at community-based day centres (DCs) is offered to support daily structure and break isolation. However, little is known about the experiences of those receiving this type of support while transitioning into retirement age. Aim: To explore experiences of everyday occupations among older mental health service users attending DC while transitioning into retirement age. Materials/methods: Fourteen older DC attendees were interviewed on three occasions, spanning a time frame of four and a half years. The material was analyzed using grounded theory. Results: An overarching theme emerged; A sense of belonging - creating, recreating, and maintaining my occupational identity while ageing, with three underlying categories: Enablers helping to pave a pathway to social contacts and occupations, Struggling through changing conditions, and Recreating and maintaining my occupations and occupational identity. Conclusions/significance: Attending DC contributed with enablers that helped to maintain an occupational identity, despite ageing with complex health conditions. This study can be useful when planning optimal support focusing on occupational identity.