O Significado de ser idoso institucionalizado para residentes de uma instituição de longa permanência

Abstract

The aim of this research is to understand what is the meaning of being an institutionalized elderly to elderly residents in a long-stay institution. This is a descriptive, qualitative research, with a comprehensive approach. It was held with 13 seniors, nine males and four females, all of whom residing in a long-stay philanthropic institution in the Municipality of Maceió/AL. Data were collected from April 5 to May 25, 2013, through narrative interview. The analysis was performed using content analysis, within the thematic analysis modality, which originated four categories and sub-categories, namely: 1) having a place to be careful – that meets their basic needs, facilitates access to health resources and to grow old and die; 2) absence of family members to be take care of them - no family and family dynamics that welcome the elderly; 3) desire to have the life they had before - memories of living and Will to leave; 4) living as in a prison. The results indicate that being elderly in an institutionalized way means having their care needs met, with regard to nutrition, rest, housing and access to health resources, besides having a place to grow old and die; do not have family to be care taken either by the absence of family or the family dynamics that no longer accepts that elderly; want to get back life they had before being institutionalized, and feel trapped in. The study allowed us to conclude that the long-term institution appears as an ambiguous place for the elderly, because although it houses them, meets their needs and receives them properly, it is still an environment considered as a "prison”, which prevents them from leaving na independent and autonomous life, the meaning of being an institutionalized elderly is related to the social, family and economic context of the elderly. Institutionalization results from the context of social exclusion in which they lived and live. By understanding the institutionalized elderly with their particularities, nursing can contribute valuable way for the complete care of this population form.