The meaning of leisure for well-elderly Italians in an Australian community : implications for occupational therapy

Aim: This paper documents a study that aimed to discover the meaning of leisure experiences for an ageing Italian community in a large regional centre in Victoria, Australia.
Methods: This qualitative investigation used a phenomenological study design, and data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 well-elderly Australian Italians.
Results: Participants engaged in numerous leisure occupations that were meaningful to them and directly impacted on positive subjective experiences and health outcomes.
Conclusion: This paper adds to an understanding of how leisure impacts on the health of well-elderly Australians and how occupational therapists can use leisure effectively in interventions for successful ageing.