Perspective of elderly about the experience of living alone

Abstract

Objective: To understand the perspective of the elderly on the experience of living only in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Methods: Exploratory study with a qualitative approach, carried out with 35 elderly people in 2014. Individual interview script, Katz index, Lawton and Brody scale and Bardin thematic analysis were used. Results: Independence and autonomy were understood through the speeches of the elderly as a gaining experience, important to remain preserved in the experience of living alone, as they lead to the feeling of freedom, independence and autonomy. On the other hand, difficult confrontations, such as health limitations, little social support and financial difficulties, to carry out activities in daily life, plague the lives of these elderly people. Conclusion: Living only for the elderly is a complex experience, essential to be understood by public health professionals, in the perspective of encouraging self-care, subsidizing the planning of health actions.