Envelhecimento ativo e Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade: panorama da política organizacional de inclusão na Universidade Federal de Alagoas

Abstract

Considering the aging population in Brazil and the increase in life expectancy, the elderly population has become a social group that cannot be ignored. In this sense, promoting active aging through institutional actions is crucial for inclusion, integration and social participation. To this end, the university-society relationship serves to mitigate social inequality, and the implementation of university programs aimed at the elderly, particularly those based on extension, is the result of a greater awareness of the decline in the quality of life experienced by this demographic group. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate how the Open University for the Elderly contributes to improving the aging conditions of elderly individuals. To achieve the objectives, a qualitative descriptive research was carried out through interviews and data collection through document analysis and Information System. The information was processed based on content and categorical analysis. In this sense, this research revealed that the number of outreach activities aimed at senior citizens developed by UFAL is still small, considering that there were less than 30 registered actions, considering the 5-year period analyzed, which demonstrates the need to seek a more elderly-friendly environment, with greater emphasis and appreciation of senior citizens in the promotion of health and well-being, education and quality. Another important point identified in the research is that the preparation for the actors who will deal with senior citizens is still very limited to courses in the health area. All of this reinforces that there is no more consolidated interdisciplinary collaboration in the institution. On the other hand, in the perception of senior citizens who attend UnATI, there are many benefits (physical and mental) as a result of the activities developed. All of them stated that they were well received by the IEFE team that runs the Open University and the GPMI, in addition to perceiving that the environment favors integration and socialization among participants. However, difficulties in logistics, medical monitoring by the HU and a lack of volunteers for the program have been some of the barriers that hinder the progress of the actions.