Enfim só: um olhar sobre o universo de pessoas idosas que moram sozinhas no município de Belo Horizonte (MG), 2007

• Ano de defesa: 2008
• Autor(a) principal: Mirela Castro Santos Camargos
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; UFMG
• Palavras-chave em Português: idoso; família; domicílios unipessoais; Idosos Belo Horizonte (MG); Demografia da família Belo Horizonte (MG)
• Link de acesso: http://hdl.handle.net/1843/AMSA-7JAHPW

The aim of the present study was to investigate different aspects related to elderly who live alone in the city Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Forty in-depth interviews were conducted with elderly individuals of 60 years of age or above. In the sample design, a deliberate effort was made to include elderly of different socioeconomic groups. The qualitative approach in analyzing the interviews allowed the researcher to go beyond the associated factors related to the decision that guided the elderly in living alone. In order to assure the quality of the data collected during the interviews the Mini Mental State Examination was ministered to all respondents and only those who scored the minimum in the test were selected. Also, the Depression Scale (adapted for Brazil) was ministered. Results showed that almost half of the sample lived alone before achieving the age of 60, which indicates that the choice is mostly driven by an option, deliberated, than by a contingency driven by the diminished alternatives of living with someone else. As expected, most of the elderly were women, but differences by sex did exist, especially in the challenges faced by the elderly. Men talked about having to do the female tasks, such as cooking, and going to the supermarket. Women, in their turn, talked about doing male tasks, such as going to bank. The tone of the interviews was not marked by sadness or nostalgic feelings, and the elderly talked on their relationship with family and friends, as a source of emotional support and of help, in case of illnesses. Also, the elderly reassured that, for them, there was no isolation that surrounded the lives of those who lived alone, but distinct ways of relating to family and friends could exist. Finally, most of individuals who were interviewed mentioned that the feeling of being alone and isolated would emerge in case they had to reside in an asylum or in other institution, since, to be happy, they want to be surrounded by their family.