Elderly: life paths - historical narratives

Introduction: The Brazilian population is experiencing a demographic shift, with a rising aging population, necessitating a focus on understanding the experiences of elderly individuals through life narratives. This emphasis can provide valuable insights for healthcare students, managers and professionals. Objective: This study aims to uncover social representations among the elderly regarding the aging process, encompassing transitions into old age and the state of being elderly. Utilizing a qualitative approach that involves historical narratives, the research comprehensively capture the complexities and challenges of aging. Methods: This research adopts a descriptive and qualitative methodology, employing a narrative research design. In-depth interviews were conducted with the participation of 12 elderly individuals, encompassing both genders, aged between 65 and 74 years. The study was conducted at the Emílio Carlos Teaching Hospital in Catanduva-SP, Brazil, involving individuals either hospitalized or undergoing outpatient treatment. Potential participants were invited to partake in the study and provided a comprehensive overview of the research before granting informed consent through Form n. 61671322.1.00005430, ensuring their voluntary participation while safeguarding their anonymity. Socio-economic data were collected using a predetermined Sociographic Data Collection Instrument, facilitating identification and subsequent descriptive statistical analysis of socio-economic profiles. The cognitive assessment encompassed the administration of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) with a minimum threshold score of 20 points. Conducted through a semistructured script, the interviews captured participants' narratives, emphasizing their experiences during childhood, adulthood, and the aging process. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subsequently organized into thematic axis, including Childhood Experiences and Early Life, Work and Occupation, Family and Relationships, Health and Well-being, and Attitudes towards Aging and Coping Strategies. Results: The analysis of the gathered data unveils a multitude of insights into the social representations of aging. Descriptive statistics indicate that the interviewed cohort consisted of 8 men and 4 women, with an average MMSE score of around 23.67, reflective of wellpreserved cognitive faculties among the participants. Furthermore, the study reveals that the cohort had an average age of 68.4 years and an average of approximately 3.25 years of schooling. The participants´ homogenous socioeconomic background highlights common challenges, including limited access to formal education and financial resources. Conclusion: The combination of historical narratives, cognitive assessment, and socio-economic data offers a comprehensive view of the elderly demographic. This holistic viewpoint enables more refined and empathetic approaches to improving well-being. Identifying shared socio-economic challenges among the cohort participants, which could impact their aging paths, provides practical insights for tailoring strategies to enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals in modest economic contexts. These challenges also highlight significant concerns, including differences in healthcare access, intergenerational dynamics, and the risk of social isolation. In response to these needs, targeted interventions can be outlined, focusing on improving healthcare availability, fostering intergenerational connections, and establishing strong support networks. Despite the relatively uniform socio-demographic makeup of the elderly cohort, the collected data shed light on intricate and multifaceted stories that notably contribute to a comprehensive understanding of their distinct attributes and life experiences.