ARTICLE 10.1177/0193945902238830 Western Journal of Nursing Research February 2003, Vol. 25, No. 1 Supporting Older Adults Living With Multiple Chronic Conditions 1 Susan J. Loeb Janice Penrod Sharon Falkenstern Sarah Hall Gueldner Leonard W. Poon This qualitative study was conducted using focus groups to explore the strategies commonly employed by older adults (N = 37) to manage multiple chronic conditions. Key strategies identi- fied were relating with health care providers, medicating, exercising, changing dietary patterns, seeking information, relying on spirituality and/or religion, and engaging in life. Although social support was not mentioned as a discrete strategy, the participants’social networks were embedded in all of the categories. This study supports building a partnership of care in which nurses and other health care professionals function in supportive and educative roles to enhance the older person’s lifelong self-care management and ability to stay in control of multiple chronic health conditions. Keywords: older adults, comorbidity, chronic conditions, coping As older adults enjoy increasing longevity, they are likely to be challenged by at least one and often multiple chronic health conditions. Hoffman, Rice, and Sung (1996) reported that 88% of all older adults in the United States had at least one chronic condition, and 69% had more than one chronic condition. From our perspective, individuals with two or more health conditions are experiencing comorbidity, a state that most often involves chronic conditions in the later years. Although the majority of older adults live with comor- bidity, our understanding of this phenomenon remains limited. According to 8 Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2003, 25(1), 8-29 Susan J. Loeb, R.N., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Uni- versity of Delaware; Janice Penrod, R.N., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University; Sharon Falkenstern, R.N.C.P.N.P., Ph.D.(c), Instructor in Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University; Sarah Hall Gueldner , D.S.N., F.A.A.N., Pro- fessor of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University; Leonard W. Poon, Ph.D., Profes- sor and Director of the Gerontology Center, The University of Georgia. DOI: 10.1177/0193945902238830 © 2003 Sage Publications