Apoio social e seus processos educativos em um grupo de convivência de idosos

Abstract

The transformation of aging on social problem from the time when the search for positive views of the process are highlighted. Due to the rapid increase in the elderly population along with the concern of building a positive view of the process increases the concern for the elderly and arouses the interest on the subject in the areas of health and social policy and the interest of scholars on the theme. New areas and studies of possibilities emerge and education emerged as a possibility for a new look at the aging process and its meanings. Educational processes can be observed from the living, exchanges and social support that is present in the elderly in social groups. The social support that has its existence valued for promoting and maintaining a quality of life emerges as an important social practice. This study aimed to identify, analyze and describe the educational processes presented from the social practice of social support among people in a support group for seniors in the city of São Carlos - SP. The participants were older and regulars teachers group with ages ranging between 60 and 84 years. The meetings were held weekly in the lounge of a parish in the city of São Carlos. This is a research with qualitative approach to the collection of September data / 2014 to June / 2016 from the Participant Observation, with the insertion of the researcher with the group using field diaries records and interviews semi-structured. Data analysis was from reading and rereading of the notes in a field diary and interviews transcripts highlighting points considered important, repetition and brought connection with the social practice of social support and identified educational processes. It is observed social support as a strong point in the relationships between people in the group. Educational processes take place in the exchange between the elderly and among the elderly and the teacher: on the activities of the group, about their life experiences, knowledge built on their experiences and living together in the group. The living group is considered of great importance for the elderly in the promotion and maintenance of their socials relations as well as social participation. The sight of elderly face old age in general is positive, which helps in coping with the aging process and the natural limitations of it. At the end of the study it concluded that the existence of a social support network often does not guarantee the existence of the support itself, which is not the case studied here, but the social group shows the importance ascribed to it in existence and maintenance of social support for the elderly who attend. Social support enables the existence of educational processes from the coexistence and relations between the elderly in the group, as well as old age coping possibilities. Highlights the need for the existence of equipment that format (elderly people in social groups) for the participation of older people in health promotion and social participation.