Although embraced as desirable by most, living into very old age is largely unexplored as a
distinct season of life, with increased, varied, and cumulative changes during a unique time
of vulnerability and frailty. The purpose of this study was to listen to the oldest-old, and to
explore their lived experience of growing old. This hermeneutic phenomenology study
examines the experience of finding meaning and living with losses and gains in advanced
old age.