The perception of the elderly about suffering related to frailty

Abstract

Objective: To understand how elderly persons perceive subjective aspects linked to current and other life experiences related to the process of becoming frail. Method: A qualitative study, anchored in interpretative anthropology, was performed. The elderly were selected from the FIBRA Network database from those classified as robust or pre-frail, according to the frailty phenotype of Fried et al., in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil in 2009. We interviewed 15 elderly people of different genders, ages, income, religion and functional status, in 2016. In data collection and analysis, the "signs, meanings and actions" analysis model was used, which allows the understanding of the elements that are significant for a population to read a given situation and to position themselves in relation to it. Results: From the analysis the following categories emerged: a) suffering throughout life and b) suffering and the resources to deal with them. Conclusion: The interviewees described sufferings of different aspects that constitute their life, from birth to aging, according to experiences related to pain, loss and learning. The perception of current frailty refers to their life history, marked by physical or mental suffering, whether insidious or temporary -as well as illnesses, how they manifest themselves today, and a lack of financial resources and urban security. The narratives bring us closer to the perception of frailty as being constitutive of human beings, who can easily break.

Vulnerability, family violence and institutionalization: narratives for elderly and professionals in social welcome center

“…This happens with people of any age, living with family or friends. (TE-02) It is worth mentioning that the highest degree of dependence, as was the case with the elderly in this research, promotes the feeling of pleasure in the face of welcoming, favoring adaptation to the institutionalization process (14,19) . Yet, the fact that many elderly people in this condition of vulnerability do not have an active and intense public and social life, such as, for example, doing house work, going to the market, having romantic relationships, attending dances or social groups (14,19) , it also facilitates the acceptance of the context of life at the ILPI.…”

“…(TE-02) It is worth mentioning that the highest degree of dependence, as was the case with the elderly in this research, promotes the feeling of pleasure in the face of welcoming, favoring adaptation to the institutionalization process (14,19) . Yet, the fact that many elderly people in this condition of vulnerability do not have an active and intense public and social life, such as, for example, doing house work, going to the market, having romantic relationships, attending dances or social groups (14,19) , it also facilitates the acceptance of the context of life at the ILPI. It is noteworthy that units with welcoming processes specialized in individuals who are victims of violence, neglect and abandonment, such as the location of this study, provide for rescuing social life, in addition to dignity, which in some situations may have been lost (7,14) .…”

“…The perception of functional vulnerability and the situations of family violence experienced refer to life stories, marked by physical or mental suffering, as well as illnesses, the lack of financial resources, security, care and family support (15)(16) . These narratives are filled with emotion and express suffering when reporting how the individual lived before institutional care and the recognition of the benefits acquired after institutionalization (15)(16)19) , which can be observed through the following statements:…”