Qualidade de vida de idosos que residem em domicílio unipessoal.

Abstract

Conformation of current society we can observe every day, more elderly residing alone, making it necessary to know the context of these elderly in order to provide adequate assistance and provide them with a better quality of life. Accordingly, this study aims to evaluate the quality of life of seniors living in one-person households. This is a descriptive- exploratory study with quantitative and qualitative approach undertaken in the area of a family health unit of the municipality of Brazil-PB. Inclusion criteria were: being in the age group of 60 years or more, be of both sexes, reside in a single home in the area covered by the Basic Health Unit, introduce cognitive ability or mental preserved, evaluated by the Mini Mental Examination. The instruments used for data collection were a semi-structured interview script consisting of issues relevant to demographic characterization of participants, issues that guide the goals and by the WHOQOL-OLD instrument for the evaluation of the quality of life of the elderly. The demographic data and the responses obtained through the WHOQOL-OLD instrument were analyzed through the application Statistical Package for the Social Science version 21. While the replies obtained were analyzed qualitatively using the technique of content analysis proposed by Bardin. Demographic profile of respondents showed that most were female (60%), education level varying between illiterate and basic education incomplete (46.7%), marital status widowed (60%), pensioners (100%), Catholics (93.3%), with personal income ranging between 1 and 5 minimum salaries. Regarding the data autoreferidos include: 46.7% of seniors consider their average health condition; 86.7% have reduced visual acuity; 93.3% do not have hearing problems and 73.3% do not have difficulties to get around; 66.7% has no harmful habit; No senior citizen leisure activity or practice physical activity; 80% make use of medication; 53.3 percent reported sleep well; 53.3% wears glasses and no uses hearing aid or support to get around (100%). With regard to the quality of life of older people measured by the WHOQOL-OLD, the highest average was found in Sensory Functioning facet (75.83) and the lowest in facet Intimacy (53.75). In relation to the categories of content analysis, the identification of three thematic groups: guiding everyday activities, Reasons related to choice of living alone and interpersonal relationships which were divided into subcategories for a better analysis of the content set out in each individual speech. Finally considers that the results of this work can contribute adding values about the findings evidenced and encourages the development of new studies on quality of life of elderly people who live alone.