Equipments of social assistance to older adults in São Paulo: Perceptions about aging, old age, Gerontology and the Professional role of the gerontologist

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the perceptions of professionals and seniors from five equipments of social assistance to elderly adults in the city of São Paulo concerning to aging, old age, Gerontology and the professional role played by gerontologist. The equipments were linked to the Unified Social Assistance Services (USAS): two equipments offered Basic Social Protection and three Special Social Protection. This research was an exploratory and descriptive study that used the orientation of the ethnographic method in collecting, processing and analysis of data from in-depth interview. 12 older adults and 10 professionals were interviewed. There were two dichotomous categories related to old age and aging: The conception of healthy and active aging, versus, old age and aging as a process of loss and decline, which refers to disability and loss of social roles. Old age is treated more as a feeling, than an age category itself. Few respondents reported know Gerontology, being informed about the scope and applications of their field of study. According to narratives, the gerontologist were: instructors, researchers, administrators, counselors, and professionals who will develop educational interventions. The data can contribute to understand the needs of elderly and professionals in these services from their own perceptions, discussing appropriated ways to different cultural specificities of management attention and integration of elderly adults in the social equipments. Key-words: old age; aging; Gerontology, gerontologist.