O impacto das doenças na vida cotidiana em pessoas idosas institucionalizadas

Abstract

Despite the large number of healthy elderly people, old age is also followed by an overall decline in health conditions, especially among institutionalized elderly people. The general objective of this anthropological research is to verify the impact of diseases on the everyday life of institutionalized elderly people and their present and future consequences. The investigation took place at Asilo São Vicente de Paulo de Londrina, a nursing home with 37 residents. Data were collected through observations and interviews and analyzed through the description of the observations and the hermeneutic-dialectical method. Results showed loss of autonomy and personal control. Based on the participants comments, the study detected a perception of the sickening body, mobility loss, lack of freedom, physical dependence to carry out routine activities, occupation reduction and isolation, difficulty to sleep and hopelessness in regards to the future. In its final considerations, the study highlights the importance of the anthropological investigation in a Long-term Care institution for the elderly