Re-learning to live - doi:10.5020/18061230.2004.p138

Abstract

The elderly ability to learn and acquire new knowledge is most of the times underestimated by themselves and by those who surround them. In this research, by means of a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach, the elder’s capacity to learn was studied along with which group activities influence people at this time of life – how does his/her world vision interferes in the development of a healthy and happy old age. A self-steam rescue work was conducted by diminishing the feelings of loneliness and neglect and improving this people’s social network. The study subjects consisted of residents from the Community of Dendê, in the age group of 60 to 96 years, in Fortaleza – Ceará – Brazil. In the field survey were used both semi-structured and structured interviews that had the purpose of verifying how the familial, cultural and psychological factors contribute to these elderly perception of life. For the interviews’ analysis, the ethnographic research of Spradley – cultural domain – was applied. The results support that study can stimulate and motivate the elder’s capacity to learn and that, by developing group activities, one can promote an improvement in these people’s quality of life.