A percepção de idosas sobre mudanças em suas vidas após sofrerem quedas graves

Abstract

Given the fact that severe falls are common among the elderly population and that the subjective aspects involved in these situations are rarely addressed by the literature, a research was carried out with the objective of knowing the perceptions of elderly women about changes in their lives after suffering severe falls. The situation of five elderly women, that fell, who lived in a Long-Term Institution (ILPI) were addressed, through semi-structured interviews. As main theoretical contributions, there were productions of references by agencies in the health area and Sartrian existentialism, especially the concept of the project of being. For the results and discussion, a content analysis was carried out. It was noted that serious falls can happen due to environmental, behavioral and biological risks; and that the main changes in the elderly's being-project involve: the fear of falling again; experiences of limitations felt in the body and in the performance of daily activities; changes in the relations with others, especially with family, but also with employees and colleagues of the Institution.