Velhice, cuidado e dependência : concepções de cuidadores de idosos asilados em uma instituição de Maringá-PR

Abstract

Nowadays, the aging process of the world population is an incontestable fact. However, insome countries, there has not been enough time for society to prepare itself to live with such a reality, as it happens in Brazil. Thus, the institutions in charge of providing health service to fulfill the old people's needs demand reorganization and rearrangements, which, in fact, includes the development of human resources. Particularly, in homes for old people, or in nursing homes, the quality of care seems to be committed, once most of the time the work is carried out by lay professionals or nurse-assistants, without appropriate knowledge of gerontologic care. This study, of exploratory character, aims at analyzing the conceptions that caregivers, in a nursing home in Maringá-PR, have in mind concerning dependence and care in old age. In addition, it aims at contributing to improve this sort of service. The population studied is constituted of ten professionals (a nurse, four technicians, three nurse-assistants, and two nurse-attendants). Data collection was made through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed, and later helped in the elaboration of an answering protocol that originated thematic categories. The psychological marker is a valuable device to delimit the old age period, that is then, conditioned to the way of thinking, behaviors and attitudes to face life, as well as, the person's mood. Both, health conditions and dependence are mentioned as factors that can accelerate or delay the beginning of that period of life. The prejudice and the stereotyped vision, in this matter, are highlighted, once it is frequent to face negative aspects in statements, thus, neglecting the positive ones. The dependence is considered a natural and expected thing or event, being associated or not to diseases, and it can lead the individual to limitations. Greater importance is attributing to the psychological affective dependence, and most of caregivers have recognized that old people in daily care develop a behavioral dependence. For the individuals interviewed, the conception of care involves providing the main basic necessities of human beings, also considering the biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects, and thus, demanding an intensification in manifestations such as love, respect, emotional care, comprehension, patience and so on. On the other hand, according to the reports presented, the practice of care seemed to be strongly centered in the fulfillment of tasks imposed by the institutional routines, with emphasis on services concerning biological necessities. The lack of human resources constitutes the main difficulty to accomplish such a care, thus, it contributes, extremely, to create or maintain the mentioned behavioral dependence. Therefore, it becomes evident that the lack of specific knowledge, as well as, the prejudice and the stereotyped vision of the old age process, in addition to deficient working conditions, among some other factors, can cause the increase of the dependence level and, consequently, can restrict autonomy, interfering in the quality of service provided to old people. Thus, the knowledge of different 'realities', concerning care, plays an important role in the planning and implementation of human resource programs involving transformation of the present quality, in order to provide a better health system to people undergoing the aging process.