The Experience of Older Adults with Sight Loss Participating in Audio Book Groups

Abstract

The opportunity and ability to continue to enjoy leisure occupations has been identified as a key determinant of psychosocial well-being following the onset of sight loss in later life. While adjustment to the use of audio books has been found to require perseverance, reading remains a common occupation in older adults with sight loss. Research with sighted readers has suggested that book groups can enhance the experience of solitary reading and provide opportunities to develop new social networks, yet there is an absence of similar research with audio book groups. This Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study employed semi-structured interviews to explore how four older-age women with sight loss in the United Kingdom experienced and made sense of participating in audio book groups. Four interrelated themes emerged; sharing occupation with others, friendship and belonging, the role of the librarians, and the contrast with experiences beyond the group. The findings suggest that audio book groups can play an important role in facilitating and enhancing reading as meaningful occupation, as well as in maintaining a positive sense of self and reducing the social isolation associated with sight loss. The influence of the social, institutional and cultural environments in realising these benefits is discussed.