CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / A pesquisa objetivou avaliar as aÃÃes do Programa Conviver, junto à pessoa idosa, como estratÃgia de operacionalizaÃÃo da PolÃtica Nacional de AssistÃncia Social, em Fortaleza. Objetivou tambÃm: dimensionar o quantitativo de idosos atendidos de 2003 a 2009; analisar o nÃvel de satisfaÃÃo dos idosos; verificar se ocorreram mudanÃas na vida dos participantes a partir do ingresso no Programa; sugerir aprimoramentos e reformulaÃÃes, com base nos resultados encontrados. O estudo se desenvolveu nos oito Centros ComunitÃrios da Secretaria do Trabalho e Desenvolvimento Social do Estado, localizados em Fortaleza-CE, que executam o Programa, por meio de Grupos de ConvivÃncia. A pesquisa foi quantitativa, associada a estudo documental e ao uso de dados secundÃrios. A coleta de dados ocorreu de 01/06/2010 a 31/07/2010. A amostra foi composta de 262 idosos que participavam dos Grupos, hà pelo menos seis meses, dentro de um universo de 820 idosos. Utilizamos um formulÃrio para o levantamento quantitativo dos grupos e sobre as atividades promovidas entre 2003 e 2009. Um questionÃrio foi aplicado aos idosos, buscando o perfil socioeconÃmico e seu nÃvel de satisfaÃÃo com os Grupos de ConvivÃncia. Os dados demogrÃficos e socioeconÃmicos foram agrupados por frequÃncia absoluta e relativa e dispostos em quadros e tabelas. A anÃlise dos dados foi feita tomando por base os pressupostos essenciais do Programa Conviver e da PolÃtica Nacional de AssistÃncia Social, bem como literatura recente relacionada com a temÃtica estudada. Os resultados da nossa pesquisa foram, em linhas gerais, os seguintes: os sujeitos da amostra sÃo viÃvos, solteiros ou separados, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino, todos com baixa escolaridade, provenientes do interior do CearÃ; residem com filhos ou outros familiares; sÃo aposentados ou recebem o BenefÃcio de PrestaÃÃo Continuada. Constatamos falta de planejamento articulado entre os Centros ComunitÃrios e o desenvolvimento dos Grupos sem maiores articulaÃÃes com outros programas e projetos que poderiam beneficiar os idosos. A despeito de algumas fragilidades constatadas, os sujeitos avaliaram positivamente o Programa Conviver, aludindo a mudanÃa substancial na rotina de vida, maior interaÃÃo com outros grupos e com familiares, alÃm de maior disposiÃÃo e melhora da autoestima. ConcluÃmos que o Programa deve passar por um redirecionamento e sugerimos nÃo municipalizÃ-lo, o que nos permitirà realizar futuras avaliaÃÃes; diversificaÃÃo das atividades focando-as na qualificaÃÃo profissional dos participantes e na prevenÃÃo de demÃncias; maior articulaÃÃo entre os Grupos de ConvivÃncia e os demais programas, projetos e serviÃos dos Centros ComunitÃrios; requalificaÃÃo dos profissionais; garantia de orÃamento estadual regular e suficiente para custear as atividades jà existentes e para ampliÃ-las; ampliaÃÃo da cobertura; planejamento de aÃÃes articuladas com as demais polÃticas pÃblicas de atendimento ao Idoso; participaÃÃo dos idosos no planejamento das intervenÃÃes, a partir de suas necessidades, anseios e desejos, reconhecendo sua autonomia e capacidade de propor melhorias para sua prÃpria vida. / This research aimed at evaluating the actions of the Program âLiving Togetherâ the elderly as a strategy to put into practice the National Policy of Social Welfare, in Fortaleza. Its purpose was also aim to calculate the number of elderly patients from 2003 to 2009 and to analyze the level of satisfaction in their living; it also aimed at estimating if there had been any changes in the lives of the participants since they had joined the Program. Another objective of this research is to suggest improvements and eventual enhancements in the methods currently used, based upon the results which had been collected during the above mentioned period. The study was conducted in eight community centers of the Department of Labor and Social Development of the State of CearÃ, located in Fortaleza, which run this program through Support Groups. The research consisted of a quantitative study associated with the use of documentary and secondary data. Data collection took place from 01/06/2010 to 31/07/2010. The sample comprised 262 seniors out of 820 elderly who had participated in the groups for no less than six months. We used a questionnaire which was applied to the groups of elderly with the purpose of investigating their socioeconomic profiles and their level of satisfaction regarding the activities which had been put into practice in the groups from 2003 to 2009. The demographic and socioeconomic data were grouped according to absolute and relative frequency and arranged in frames and tables. Data analysis was carried out based upon the key assumptions Program âLiving Togetherâ and the National Policy for Social Assistance according to the most up-to-date literature related to this subject. The results of our research were, in general, the following: Most of the subjects in our study are female, widowed, single or divorced. They all had low educational level, and from the hinterland of the state of CearÃ; most of them reside with their sons, daughters or other relatives; they are retired people or receive the Benefit of âContinuous Supportâ. A certain lack of planning among community centers and the Groups was found. It was observed that the Groups develop without a major connection with the other programs and projects that could benefit the elderly. However, in spite of a few weak points detected, the subjects evaluated positively the âLiving Togetherâ Program, indicating substantial changes in their life routine, a sound interaction with other groups and with their family members as well as increased provision and improved self-esteem. It is legitimate to conclude that the program must go through a process of redirection of its goals and that the Program should never fall into the hands of the municipalities, something which would make future assessments more difficult. Likewise, it is felt that the Program should undergo a process of diversification of activities by focusing on the professional training of participants and the prevention of dementia, greater coordination among the Coexistence groups and other programs, projects and services of the Community Centers, professional qualification of personnel, ensuring a regular state budget enough to cover the existing expenses that the activities involve and to extending them, expanding coverage, planning of joint actions with other public policies involving Aged care; elderly participation in the planning of interventions, based on their needs, wants and desires, recognizing their autonomy and ability to propose improvements in their lives.