Maintaining the square. How older adults with Parkinson's disease sustain quality in their lives.

In this article, the author's objective is to uncover the common practices that help sustain quality in the lives of older adults with Parkinson's disease. Interpretive phenomenology was the method used to gather and analyze the stories of six men and six women with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The results show a constitutive pattern of Maintaining the Square. Five relational themes, including Learning How, Accepting Limitations, Seeking Knowledge, Engaging in Meaningful Experiences, and Living for Today, emerged from the participants' stories. The participants' ability to sustain continuity in their lives indicates their successful maintenance of the square. By identifying markers of continuity, they are able to maintain quality in their lives. As nurses, we can promote continuity in the lives of our patients if we take the time to learn what gives them meaning and purpose in life and then facilitate ways to help them maintain this connection.