Elderly women talking about aging: subsidies for promoting health

Abstract

This is a qualitative study to understand what it is to grow old from the point of view of elderly women. Participants included eight women from Concórdia, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, aged 6 to 75 years old. The data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews which were recorded and transcribed. The data was analyzed through Collective Subject Speech and four central themes arose. The results show that aging is seen as a gradual process, as a "gift"not common to all, which hasits advantages and disadvantages. Reduced physical strength makes some activities difficult, but does not inhibit living with other people, learning new things, as well as making friends and plans for the future. Depression and menopause are negative factors, common at this age, but chronic diseases are more easily accepted. Aging is perceived as a time for fulfillment and a time of freedom, when life can be lived intensely without the constraints imposed by commitments.