Moments of pleasure in the lives of older adults: why do they matter?

While research has recently focused on pleasure associated with deeply engaging pursuits such as hockey or dance, limited attention has been given to pleasurable momentary experiences in the lives of older adults. Examined through the lens of pleasure, the purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore the role of everyday moments of leisure in the lives of older adults. Four themes were developed that reflect the experiences and meanings of pleasure in the lives of older adult study participants (n = 5; aged 59–84): (1) Pleasure was experienced in small, but important ways, and (2) was often embedded in place. (3) The older adults were intentional about making pleasure happen in their lives and (4) pleasure matters (a lot) in the lives of older adults. This study highlights the role of momentary pleasures in motivating engagement and meaning-making juxtaposed against everyday life challenges and obligations experienced by older adults.