Table 2 Summary of themes

Health is a Responsibility –

“What I have to do”

Health was described as a responsibility that included the need to take responsibility for maintaining their well-being, mitigating limitations or challenges, and accepting their role in managing health as they age. This responsibility extended beyond their healthcare team and reflected a preference for participation in health decisions and action

Despite Health-Related Limitations

– “I do what I want to do”

Older adults described health as influenced by being able to do what they wanted to do. This was despite health-related challenges that participants live with and spoke to a desire to participate in social and environmental aspects of their lives

Personal Strengths –

“The way you think”

Several personal strengths were identified by participants as shaping their self-reported health. These strengths contributed to an overall sense of control in how they view health and served as health resources for the older adults

Comparison and Learning from Others

– “Looking around at other people”

Older adults described interpreting their health experiences in relation to others. This included comparisons to themselves as younger adults, as well as to friends, family, and strangers. This comparison contributed to learning opportunities and served to benchmark health status