Inclusão social do idoso nos avanços tecnológicos de comunicação.

Abstract

It is noticed that there are restrictions to elderly practitioners of use of communication technologies, leaving them most of the times excluded from conversations with younger people or friends who have access to such means. The study aimed mainly to know the technological means of communication used by the elderly and their meanings. And specific objectives: to describe the socio demographic profile of the elderly; to investigate the meanings attributed by the elderly to technological media; to determine the advantages and difficulties for handling the technological means of communication; and to know the approaching to elderly on the integration of communication technologies by the nursing staff. The study was a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach. The survey was conducted in the homes of elderly residents in Cabrobó- Pernambuco. Data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews, in February 2014 and happened after the opinion of the 605 902 Research and Ethics Committee (CEP). Data were organized according to the technique of content analysis and analyzed through literature. The research followed the Resolution 466/12 of the National Health Council. 20 participants aged between 60 and 80 years were enrolled in the study, from them, 12 were female, 13 were married, nine had completed elementary school, 18 were retired, 17 reported they were white, and 19 had income between one and three minimum wages. From contents of the statements it was found that the technological means were important for the elderly by providing news information, personal communication, learning, shopping facilities, company, quality of life, solve problem, religious programs, occupy time. And that the changes were varied (education, wisdom, communication, entertainment) to improve their lives before the comparison of the time that there were no technologies. The elderly had radio, television and/or cell phone. Most of them had no computer and had no access to the machine. They used to use these media quoted daily, they considered easy to handle them. About the difficulties, all emphasized the computer as technological means of communication more difficult to use. Another difficulty was the report of the majority not being capable to type in the phone keys to make calls or send text message. Elderly didn’t know about the presence of nursing staff in geriatric care with regard to this issue. By questioning the elderly about what their suggestion for the contribution of nursing in learning and perfecting the use of technological media, most of them believe that the best way to help is the guidance and teaching. It is considered that it is possible to insert the elderly in new communication technologies through actions of digital education; spaces for collective discussion and psychological support, taking into account the relevance to the health of these people.