Table 2.

Summary of final themes

Superordinate theme	Subthemes	Support from data
Productivity	Role / structure / purpose / routine / absence	“…made me think what, what purpose have I got? I don’t work, I don’t…but volunteering is so important…” (Denise) “… so I don’t do much unless I go to a class so I’m a member of various groups and that’s what I would normally do but as they’re not going at the moment I’m not doing anything…” (Diane)
Ownership	Choice / health / decision-making / practicalities	“I’ve got to do something, but I don’t know what I am going to do… But there again it’s up to me, in the end. No-one can tell me what to do.” (Janet) “… of course, I’m wondering what will happen cos … would I rather stay here [current home] and be peaceful and have people in y’know like I do now really you know just as friends but not being with people in constantly if you see what I mean?” (Kim)
Interconnectedness	Continuity / ruptures / adaptation / reciprocity	“And I lost all the volunteering job cos they all shut obviously and all this meeting friends, my whole life in fact I lost.” (Diane) “But as I say I’ve got through it a bit and you just have to make a different path for yourself I suppose.” (Angela)