Os sentidos do envelhecer para idosos institucionalizados.

Abstract

Human aging is not just a demographic problem, but it is, above all, a more complex phenomenon that involves sociocultural , political and economic dynamic and ongoing interaction with the biological and subjective dimension of individuals . The fact that the elderly represent a portion of the population increasingly significant numerical point of view has led to a society's concern with the aging process, giving rise to a number of practices to promote successful adaptation to old age. Thus, the long-stay institutions for the elderly ( LTCF ) fit into the social context as a viable alternative elderly care . Thus , the present study aimed to analyze the meaning of aging for institutionalized elderly , as well as evaluating the lifestyle of the elderly living in long-stay institutions , identify the project of life of older people before and after institutionalization and know the meanings attributed to old age. This is an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative approach, performed in Shelter Luca Zorn in the city of Cajazeiras - PB. Was attended by six seniors, and as an instrument of data collection a script of semi-structured interviews with objective questions which sought to trace the socio-demographic profile of the participants, and subjective questions that aimed to evaluate the profile of the institutionalized elderly. The results showed that most of the elderly are women, aged 73-86 years, the highest rate of widowed Catholics with incomplete primary education and income of a minimum wage. Most seniors have children, not lived alone before the institutionalization process and reported that loneliness and abandonment family were the main reasons that led to institutionalization. The seniors said they had little or no expectations for the future. The data show that participants performed few activities within the shelter, which may be hindering its development and cognitive function, making them more vulnerable to physical and mental illnesses such as depression. Moreover, they do not have a broad understanding of what is aging and the changes that accompany this process. Concludes that it is necessary to establish a communication network interaction with these seniors, encouraging them to recreate a new reality and construct new meanings about the aging process, which includes larger prospects. Hence the importance of exercise -centered care in attention, joy, creativity, the redemption values and respect for the life context in which each person is located.