Meanings Of Old Age And Expectations For The Future From The Perspective Of The Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the different meanings attributed by older adults to old age and their expectations for the future. This was a qualitative descriptive study of 34 older adults involved in senior activities in the urban area of Pau dos Ferros, a municipality located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Using a semi-structured interview, the participants were asked about their perceptions of old age and expectations for the future. Two thematic categories emerged throughout the analysis process: ‘Meanings attributed to old age’ and ‘Expectations for the future’. The results showed that older adults’ perceptions of old age are constantly influenced by the individual experiences accumulated over a lifetime, and that the triad of old age, health, and disease, in the majority of cases, is the factor that most influences the responses. It is our hope that the present study will contribute to the development of further studies that include older adults’ perceptions of their own aging process, and that these studies will provide knowledge that will translate into benefits for older adults, whether they participate or not in group-based senior activities.

Keywords

• aging
• aged
• health of the elderly
• senior centers