Abstract:

Introduction. Elderly who experience rheumatoid arthritis, if elderly with rheumatoid arthritis is not treated immediately, they will lead self-care defi cit. The objective was to describe self-care agency to elderly with rheumatoid arthritis based on theory of Dorothea E Orem. Methods. The research design was descriptive. Population was all elderly with rheumatoid arthritis at Kelurahan Bangsal Kota Kediri. The subjects were 55 respondents using purposive sampling. The variable was self-care agency. Data collecting used questionnaires of Denyes Self-Care Agency-90, then analyzed used statistical test of frequency distribution. Result. Results of self-care agency to elderly with rheumatoid arthritis was good (56.4%) consisted of ego strength aspect, was good (56.4%), aspect of health value was good (56.4%), aspect of health knowledge and decision making was good (61.8%), energy aspect was poor (50, 9%), feeling aspect was poor (58.2%), attention to health aspect was good (50.9%). Discussion. Elderly with rheumatoid arthritis have good self-care agency which consist of good in ego strength aspect, good health knowledge and decision making aspect, good attention to health and poor in energy and feeling aspect. Keywords: Self-care agency, elderly, rheumatoid arthritis

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