Dependência funcional e sentido de vida: repercussões na qualidade de vida de idosos residentes em domicílio unipessoal e domicílio compartilhado.

Abstract

Aging is a unique process that gains differentiated dimensions when compared among individuals. Often this process is associated with the presence of chronic noncommunicable diseases that favor the emergence of disabilities, inducing the elderly person to functional dependency, increasing the vulnerability of the subject, a situation that affects the quality of life itself. The objective of this study was to analyze the meaning of life, functional dependence and quality of life in elderly people living in single and shared domicile. This is a descriptive, comparative, quantitative study of 246 elderly people living in the area of the João Bosco Braga Barreto Basic Health Unit in the municipality of Cajazeiras-PB, who met the criteria inclusion criteria. In the data collection, besides the sociodemographic evaluation form of the subjects, the following instruments were used: Life-purpose test (PIL-Test 12); Functional independence measure (FIM); and the Quality of Life Questionnaire for the Elderly (WHOQOL-OLD). The analysis was developed by means of descriptive statistics (absolute distributions, percentages and average) and statistical tests performed in SPSS software, version 20.0. The data collection was initiated only after approval of the Ethics and Research Committee under opinion number 2,786,390. All items set forth in Resolution 466/12 of the National Health Council, which regulates research with human beings, were obeyed. The profile of both groups of elderly was similar, standing out in general: age range between 60 and 70 years; women; family income of 1 to 2 minimum wages, independent functional capacity and regular quality of life, differing only by considering separately each variable and category of research. The highest dependency ratio was observed in the elderly living in a shared household. The contribution of the meaning of life was shown as a protective resource capable of reducing the effects of functional dependence and contributing to the quality of life of the elderly through the high existential performance index in contrast to the high number of independent elderly. According to the various hypotheses presented in the research through the factors that may negatively affect the quality of life of the elderly, we suggest the development of more studies related to the subject for better understanding, as well as the creation and improvement of strategies capable of reducing the deficits found in the reality of the elderly that distance them from a good quality of life.