Violência contra a pessoa idosa: saberes e práticas de conselheiros.

Abstract

The increase of elderly worldwide is due to socioeconomic changes that determined major scientific and technological innovations associated with better living conditions. However, this achievement also generates negative aspects such as increased violence and abuse against these seniors. The World Health Organization defines abuse in old age as a single or repeated act, or, as the absence of appropriate action that causes injury, suffering or distress, and that occurs within a relationship of trust. This scenario is actually a related public health concerns and human rights violations and for not having a single-cause factor, it is a biopsychosocial phenomenon. Violence against the elderly can be classified into physical, sexual, psychological, economic, institutional, abandonment / neglect and self-neglect. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of counselors about violence against the elderly. This is an exploratory, descriptive qualitative study. The survey was conducted in the municipality of Cajazeiras -PB with 10 councilors. For data collection a semi - structured questionnaire with questions that addressed socio- demographic data and questions about violence against the elderly interview guide was used. Data collection occurred in November after approval by the research ethics committee and with the signing of a consent form by the person responsible. For data analysis we used the technique of content analysis proposed by Bardin, which consists of the following phases: pre - analysis that aims to systematize so that the researcher can conduct successive operations analysis; exploration material, inference and interpretation of results. The results of this survey showed that the main offenders are the relatives of the elderly mainly children and grandchildren , major assaults are physical and psychological , but all or most of the time these attacks are, that there is a victim of extortion of money, so the financial assault also comes as a major . The data showed that all the attackers do not work, these are financially dependent elderly and are users of licit and illicit drugs, hindering the work of counselors, since many times the elderly deny the aggression by love and compassion to children and grandchildren or fear . We conclude that violence against elderly in Brazil is a serious problem for public health and needs urgent by the competent authorities arrangements, because if that old is exposed to frequent violence that will cause harm to their physical and mental health.