Intentions and strategies among elderly people: Coping in everyday life Anna Dune ´r a, T , Monica Nordstro ¨m b a Go ¨teborg University, Department of Social Work, Box 720, SE 405 30 Go ¨teborg, Sweden b Va ˚rdal Institute, Go ¨teborg University, Department of Social Work, Box 702, SE 405 30 Go ¨teborg, Sweden Received 29 June 2004; received in revised form 25 September 2004; accepted 30 October 2004 Abstract Many studies of the elderly adopt a provider perspective, focusing on social policy, organizations, and professional groups. Less is known about how the elderly manage when they eventually need help in everyday living. This study examined the everyday behavior and strategies of the elderly through conducting semi- structured, in-depth interviews with 22 people over age 65. The intentions and strategies found revealed that the elderly managed or coped in active, adaptive, and passive ways, ranged along a continuum from actively maintaining their independence to passively depending on others. D 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Elderly people; Everyday life; Intentions; Strategies; Coping 1. Introduction Swedish research often depicts the elderly as passive recipients of formal and informal care whose dependence is assumed. Research typically focuses on the actors and activities determining the assistance needed, and on the actions of formal and informal care providers. Formal care depends on social policy, and on the organization of the activities and interests of professional groups; informal care 0890-4065/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2004.10.001 T Corresponding author. Tel.: +46 31 7735722; fax: +46 31 7731888. E-mail addresses: anna.duner@socwork.gu.se (A. Dune ´r)8 monica.nordstrom@socwork.gu.se (M. Nordstro ¨m). Journal of Aging Studies 19 (2005) 437 – 451 www.elsevier.com/locate/jaging