Estilo de vida e percepção do envelhecimento de idosos usuários do grupo Hiperdia

Abstract

The present dissertation was composed by two empirical studies aimed at evaluating the lifestyle of the elderly users of the Hiperdia group and their perception about ageing. The research was carried out in the second half of 2017, at the Dona Aparecida Conceição Ferreira Basic Health Unit, located in the city of Uberaba-MG. The first study is a census, quantitative and crosssectional approach aiming to evaluate the lifestyle of the elderly users of the Hiperdia group, related sociodemographic and health factors, and the relation of participation in the group with the lifestyle adopted. The study included 37 elderly people who were evaluated through the Mental State Mini-Exam, a sociodemographic and health condition questionnaire, and the Pentacle of Well-being instrument. The sample consisted mostly of women (70.3%) aged up to 79 years (73%), and 48.6% of the participants had diagnoses of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and diabetes mellitus (DM). 78.4% of the elderly participate in health education activities and 70.3% believe that the Hiperdia group interfered with their lifestyle. The classification of the elderly's lifestyle was between regular and positive, evidencing the importance of the Hiperdia group in the set of actions of health education and in influencing the adoption of a healthy lifestyle by the elderly with noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCD). The second study has a qualitative approach, is exploratory, cross - sectional, with sampling by convenience, and with the purpose of understanding the the elderly users of the Hiperdia group’s perceptions about ageing. A focus group was carried out with the presence of four elderly people, the audiorecorded group being the material analysed according to the thematic content analysis proposed by Turato. The results were grouped into four categories: chronological age x perceived age; negative aspects x positive aspects of ageing; lifestyle as coping strategy; and a new generation of elderly people. All participants had both diagnoses (SAH and DM) and the group showed that NCDs interfere with their perception of ageing since they bring a series of limitations and changes to their lives. However, the elderly demonstrate an understanding of ageing as a process with multiple meanings where the presence of NCDs does not encompass all aspects involved and is not significant enough to leave them with no prospects for life in relation to old age.