Seven Older Women\u27s Adaptation to Low Vision Through Engagement in Occupation: A Grounded Theory Study

Prior research studies on adaptation to low vision have excluded the importance of engagement in occupation to the adaptation process. The purpose of this study was to develop a theory on how visually impaired women achieve adaptation through engagement in occupation. The theoretical framework for this study is occupational adaptation. A premise of occupational adaptation is that the occupational environment, the person, and their interaction are equally important in the adaptation process. This study examined the following research questions: (a) Does a reprioritization of occupations facilitate adaptation to low vision for older women? (b) How does engagement in occupation affect older women’s adaptation to low vision? And (c) What are the events which serve to initiate and sustain momentum in the process of adaptation for older women with low vision