Abstract
Introduction: Loneliness is a personal experience, and everyone responds to it differently. Among the various problems that arise, loneliness affects the meaning of life for the elderly. The meaning of life is very important because it gives a person a special value that makes it worthy of being a goal in life. Loneliness causes psychiatric problems that are more dominant than physical problems.
Method: This research used a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. The sample consisted of 15 elderly participants who met the following criteria: aged ≥ 60 years, spouse deceased ≥ 2 years ago, able to communicate well, and willing to be a research respondent. The research variables were the experience of facing loneliness and the experience of the meaning of life among the elderly in Karatung I Village, Manganitu District. Data were collected using in-depth interview guidelines and field notes and were analyzed using Colaizzi's thematic analysis.
Results: The results generated two themes: (1) the experience of facing loneliness, characterized by difficulty living without a partner, feelings of great loss toward the partner, and coping through physical activities and support from children and family; and (2) the meaning of life, reflected in the prolonged and difficult process of accepting life after losing a spouse and adapting to life without a partner.
Conclusions: The experience of elderly people facing loneliness and the meaning of life is difficult and hard.