VIVENCIAR O ENVELHECIMENTO EM CUIDADOS PALIATIVO: Uma revisão sistemática de literatura sobre a experiência do paciente idoso

Abstract

The increase in life expectancy drives the demand for extended care, triggering the phenomenon of aging amid care. Recognizing the relevance of palliative care as an approach that seeks comprehensive provision to foster quality of life in the face of chronic, incurable illnesses, this research aims to investigate the experience of aging in palliative care from the patient's perspective. It is a systematic review encompassing studies targeting elderly individuals in palliative care. The databases used included PubMed, SciELO, Lilacs, and Medline, with descriptors specified by Desh related to aging and palliative care. The final sample consisted of nine articles. The results converged around three recurring themes: the challenges faced by the elderly concerning chronic health demands, the coping strategies they adopt, and their involvement in the palliative care process and decisions related to their health condition. Although providing valuable insights into the experience of aging in palliative care, this study is limited by the scarcity of available research exploring the phenomenon from the patients' perspective. It is crucial to drive more investigations in this field, providing opportunities for patients to express their needs and experiences, aiming to enhance the quality of services and contributing to an ongoing improvement in quality of life and satisfaction with received care.