Senescence: perceptions about this process and its uniqueness in the lives of elderly people who participate in a social group

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the perception of the elderly about the aging process and the importance of the social group for the health of the participants. Methods: This is a descriptive, exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, carried out with 8 elderly people who participate in a Coexistence Group (CG). Data collection took place between April and May 2020 through the interview technique, remotely, using a semi-structured instrument. Qualitative data were analyzed using Bardin's content analysis method. Results: The results were divided into categories: Perceived changes in health after participation in the CG and Aging: meanings and perceptions of this process. Regarding changes in quality of life and well-being after participating in the CG, most said they noticed improvements in some sphere of life. In the perception of aging, they reported that it is a natural period of joy and gratitude, but it has negative aspects. Conclusion: The results found demonstrate that aging is something intrinsically subjective and unique. Several behavioral changes and health-related benefits were listed after participating in the CG, such as: feelings of acceptance, lightness, tranquility to face stressful day-to-day situations, strengthening bonds, building bonds and unity among the participants.