Table 1 Participant summary table
Pseudonym | Age | Living Arrangements | Other chronic illnesses identified by participants | Number of people in network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Annabelle | 66 | Lives with spouse | Joint problems, Meniere’s syndrome, asthma, anxiety | 8 (3 professional, 5 social) |
Bonnie | 77 | Lives with spouse | Bowel issues, back problems, asthma | 8 (5 professional, 3 social) |
Florence | 85 | Residential care | Leg pain, swollen knees, back pain, leg ulcer/ft ulcer, depression. | 5 (2 professional, 3 social) |
Rupert | 76 | Lives with spouse | Heart issues (bypass), pacemaker, lung problems (asbestosis) | 9 (3 professional, 6 social, 1 pet) |
Maxwell | 52 | Homeless shelter | High blood pressure | 4 (all professional) |
Jack | 53 | Homeless shelter | Depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol | 11 (6 professional, 5 social) |
Rosemary | 72 | Lives alone | Leg amputation, kidney problems, anxiety | 14 (8 professional, 6 social) |
Kate | 49 | Lives with ex-spouse and children | Peripheral neuropathy, cellulitis, high blood pressure, breast abscess, high cholesterol and thyroid problems | 9 (3 professional, 6 social) |
Alexander | 52 | Lives alone | Schizophrenia, Rotor Syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, anxiety, chronic stress, bipolar, alcoholism | 8 (4 professional, 4 social and 1 pet) |
Robert | 51 | Lives alone | Epilepsy, schizoaffective psychosis, anxiety | 10 (7 professional, 3 social) |
William | 69 | Lives alone | Sleep apnoea, asbestosis, glaucoma, depression and bipolar | 9 (8 professional, 1 social) |
Miranda | 94 | Lives alone | High blood sugar, heart problems, cancer (breast) | 9 (3 professional, 6 social) |
Stanley | 78 | Lives alone | Depression, heart problems, memory problems | 11 (8 professional, 3 social, 1 pet) |
Sophie | 64 | Lives with spouse | Legally blind, arthritis, bipolar, thyroid problems | 5 (4 professional, 1 social, 1 pet) |
Emily | 32 | Lives with housemate | Stroke, arthritis, shortness of breath, depression and anxiety | 9 (6 professional, 3 social 1 pet) |
Penelope | 44 | Lives alone | Breast abscesses, obsessive compulsive disorder, sleep apnoea, depression | 10 (6 professional, 4 social, 1 pet) |
Jacqueline | 62 | Lives with spouse | Cardiovascular disease, agoraphobia, panic attacks | 9 (6 professional, 3 social) |
George | 59 | Lives alone | Depression, stroke, memory problems. | 4 (1 professional, 3 social, 2 pets) |
Peter | 85 | Lives in hostel | Heart problems (triple bypass), high blood pressure, anxiety | 9 (7 professional, 2 social) |
Patrick | 79 | Lives with spouse | Kidney problems (on dialysis) depression | 9 (6 professional, 3 social) |
Edward | 64 | Lives alone | Depression, osteoarthritis | 9 (6 professional, 3 social, 1 pet) |
Beatrice | 79 | Lives with spouse | Depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, arthritis | 7 (4 professional, 3 social) |
Richard | 56 | Lives with spouse | History of TIAs, high blood pressure | 8 (6 professional, 2 social, 2 pets) |
Libby | 56 | Boards with friend | Back pain, chronic pain, amputated toe, peripheral neuropathy sleep apnoea, suicidal tendencies, anxiety, depression | 7 (5 professional, 2 social, 1 pet) |
Ben | 71 | Lives alone | Dépression, leg amputation, infections, glaucoma | 11 (10 professional, 1 social) |
Felix | 73 | Lives with spouse | Retinal detachment, joint replacement, depression, hypertension, kidney problems, arthritis | 9 (4 professional, 5 social, 3 pets) |
Cameron | 55 | Lives with housemate | Kidney problems, crippling skin condition (unknown cause, not responding to treatment, needs to stay indoors), depression | 7 (3 professional, 4 social) |
James | 78 | Lives alone | Depression, anxiety, dementia, high blood pressure | 11 (7 professional, 4 social) |
Alexandra | 53 | Lives alone | Kidney disease, liver disease, high cholesterol, depression | 12 (9 professional, 3 social) |