Being an institutionalized elderly person: meaning of experiences based on Heidegger’s phenomenology

ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze the meaning of being an elderly person living in a long-term institution. Method: Qualitative study based on Martin Heidegger’s thought. Twelve phenomenological interviews were conducted with people aged over 60 years living in a long-term institution for the elderly in the city of Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil. Results: The units of meaning identified were: experience of progressive loss of autonomy and independence, perception of living in an institution as an inevitable circumstance; and being-with becoming being-alone/being-lonely. After the identification of ontic aspects and hermeneutical understanding, the unit of meaning was constructed: meaning of being an elderly person living in a long-term institution. Final considerations: The ontological needs referring to being an elderly person remain forgotten. As we are ontic and ontological, limited care to the ontic instance indicates deficiencies in institutionalization. Improvements are required to ensure the right to age with quality of life to this population.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Reis,Camila Calhau Andrade, Menezes,Tânia Maria de Oliva, Freitas,Adriana Valéria da Silva, Pedreira,Larissa Chaves, Freitas,Raniele Araújo de, Pires,Isabella Batista
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem 2019
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-71672019000601632
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!