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Thesis advisor: Kevin J. Mahoney / Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults in the U.S. face disproportionate risk of increased health and mental health problems as compared to their non-LGBT counterparts. Experiences of harassment, discrimination, and violence due to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) contribute to the chronic stresses associated with being a sexual and/or gender minority. LGBT older adults may avoid or delay needed services in later life, rendering them invisible to health care providers (HCPs) if they do not disclose SOGI and if providers do not ask. This three-paper dissertation explored LGBT older adults' invisibility and outness in aging services. Paper 1 investigated gerontological social workers' biopsychosocial assessment practices to understand how they became aware of clients' SOGI; assessment forms were analyzed and qualitative interviews with social workers were conducted, showing that social workers did not have a systematic way of learning about clients' SOGI. Paper 2 was a quantitative analysis of survey data from 129 LGBT older adults that showed an association between experiences of SOGI-based discrimination/violence after age 50 and not disclosing SOGI to HCPs and having avoided using aging services for fear of coming or being out. Paper 3 was a qualitative analysis of interviews with 22 LGBT older adults that sought to understand how they disclosed SOGI to HCPs. Those who disclosed did so without being asked, because of health conditions, after having sought out an LGBT /LGBT-friendly provider, or after being asked about their sex and/or love lives. Paper 3 findings offered practice and environmental changes that could increase LGBT older adults' SOGI disclosure to HCPs. This dissertation provides suggestions for social work policy, practice, and research aimed at supporting gerontological social workers in learning about their clients' SOGI in an effort to address health disparities among LGBT older adults / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

No description available.

<p>The overall aim of the present thesis was to gain further knowledge about the nursing theoretical basis of care of older people, to translate the theory of gerotranscendence into practical guidelines<b>,</b> and to implement the theory and guidelines in practical settings. </p><p>Study I comprised a literature search and a review with qualitative analysis of nursing theories. The conclusion drawn was that nursing theories do not provide guidance on how to care for older people or on how to support them in the developmental process of ageing. Thus, there is a need to develop a nursing care model that, more than contemporary theories, takes human ageing into consideration. </p><p>Study II was a qualitative interview study involving staff working in care of older people. The interviews were qualitatively analysed. The conclusion was that staff members need an interpretative framework that allows them to understand the signs they sometimes observe in older people. Such a framework would enable staff to develop a broader approach to their care for older people. Parts of this framework can be found in the theory of gerotranscendence. </p><p>In Study III, guidelines for practical care of older people<b> </b>were derived from the theory of gerotranscendence. Focus group interviews were used and other sources supporting the guidelines were given. A qualitative analysis of the interviews was carried out, and the theory of gerotranscendence was used as the theoretical framework. The guidelines could be used to promote a development toward gerotranscendence and could also be of value for people who have already attained a state of gerotranscendence. The guidelines focus on the individual, activities and the organisation.</p><p>In Study IV, the theory of gerotranscendence and practical guidelines were introduced in a nursing home. Data were collected via qualitative interviews with staff and residents, and observations were made. Qualitative analysis and triangulation were performed. As theoretical frameworks, both the theory of gerotranscendence and innovation theory were used. The result showed that the most used guidelines were those focusing on the individual; these concern what each staff member could do in his/her relation to the resident and care. The findings showed further that those staff members who interpreted signs in line with the theory of gerotranscendence also used the guidelines. The staff who were early to adopt and promote the guidelines were those individuals who described a feeling of harmony with essential parts of the gerotranscendence theory. </p><p>The most important finding of this thesis was that it was possible to translate a theory such that it could generate practical guidelines that could be used by the staff. There are probably many theories that could be translated in order to be implemented in practical care, e.g. to build a bridge between theory and practice, thereby helping staff. Innovation theory could be of general interest in all contexts in which work towards change is being conducted.</p> / <p>Det övergripande syftet med denna avhandling var att få kunskap om den omvårdnads teoretiska basen för vård av äldre, och att översätta teorin om gerotransendens till praktiska guidelines, och att införa teorin om gerotranscendens och guidelines i praktiken</p><p>Studie I, var en litteratursökning med en kvalitativ analys av omvårdnadsteorier. Den visade att dessa teorier inte ger någon vägledning om hur omvårdnad av äldre ska ske eller hur man kan stödja äldre i deras utvecklingsprocess. Därför finns det ett behov att utveckla en omvårdnadsmodell som mer än nuvarande teorier beaktar människans åldrande.</p><p>Studie II, var en kvalitativ intervjustudie med personal i äldrevård. Intervjuerna analyserades kvalitativt. Studien påvisade att personal behöver mer kunskaper om åldrandeprocessen så att de kan förstå tecken och beteenden de ibland observerar hos de äldre. Detta skulle göra det möjligt för personal att utveckla ett vidare perspektiv för hur de kan stödja äldre personer. </p><p>I studie III, utarbetades guidelines från teorin om gerotranscendens. Fokus grupps intervjuer användes. Intervjuerna analyserades kvalitativt och teorin om gerotranscendens användes som teoretisk grund. Dessutom ges i studien hänvisning till andra källor som stödjer guidelines. Guidelines kan användas för att stödja en utveckling mot gerotranscendens och kan också vara av värde för personer som redan uppnått gerotranscendens. Guidelines innehåller åtgärder som vårdare kan göra enskild, ger förslag till aktiviteter och organisatoriska åtgärder. </p><p>I studie IV, introducerades teorin om gerotranscendens och de utarbetade guidelines på ett äldreboende. Kvalitativa intervjuer gjordes med personal och boende och observationer genomfördes. Detta analyserades kvalitativt och triangulering användes, både teorin om gerotranscendens och innovations teori användes som teoretisk grund. Resultatet visade att de mest använda guidelines var de som enskilda vårdare kunde utföra självständigt. Vidare att den personal som förklarade tecken de såg hos äldre i linje med teorin om gerotranscendens, använde också guidelines. Den personal som tidigt tog till sig och stödde användandet av guidelines var de som själva beskrev att de kände igen sig själva i delar av teorin,</p><p>Det viktigaste resultatet in denna avhandling är att det var möjligt att översätta en teori till praktiskt användbara guidelines. Förmodligen finns det fler teorier som skulle kunna översättas och implementeras i praktisk verksamhet, vilket skulle vara att bygga en bro mellan teori och praktik, och hjälpa personal att kunna omsätta teorier praktiskt. Innovationsteori kan vara av generellt intresse i alla sammanhang när förändringsarbete bedrivs. </p>

The overall aim of the present thesis was to gain further knowledge about the nursing theoretical basis of care of older people, to translate the theory of gerotranscendence into practical guidelines, and to implement the theory and guidelines in practical settings. Study I comprised a literature search and a review with qualitative analysis of nursing theories. The conclusion drawn was that nursing theories do not provide guidance on how to care for older people or on how to support them in the developmental process of ageing. Thus, there is a need to develop a nursing care model that, more than contemporary theories, takes human ageing into consideration. Study II was a qualitative interview study involving staff working in care of older people. The interviews were qualitatively analysed. The conclusion was that staff members need an interpretative framework that allows them to understand the signs they sometimes observe in older people. Such a framework would enable staff to develop a broader approach to their care for older people. Parts of this framework can be found in the theory of gerotranscendence. In Study III, guidelines for practical care of older people were derived from the theory of gerotranscendence. Focus group interviews were used and other sources supporting the guidelines were given. A qualitative analysis of the interviews was carried out, and the theory of gerotranscendence was used as the theoretical framework. The guidelines could be used to promote a development toward gerotranscendence and could also be of value for people who have already attained a state of gerotranscendence. The guidelines focus on the individual, activities and the organisation. In Study IV, the theory of gerotranscendence and practical guidelines were introduced in a nursing home. Data were collected via qualitative interviews with staff and residents, and observations were made. Qualitative analysis and triangulation were performed. As theoretical frameworks, both the theory of gerotranscendence and innovation theory were used. The result showed that the most used guidelines were those focusing on the individual; these concern what each staff member could do in his/her relation to the resident and care. The findings showed further that those staff members who interpreted signs in line with the theory of gerotranscendence also used the guidelines. The staff who were early to adopt and promote the guidelines were those individuals who described a feeling of harmony with essential parts of the gerotranscendence theory. The most important finding of this thesis was that it was possible to translate a theory such that it could generate practical guidelines that could be used by the staff. There are probably many theories that could be translated in order to be implemented in practical care, e.g. to build a bridge between theory and practice, thereby helping staff. Innovation theory could be of general interest in all contexts in which work towards change is being conducted. / Det övergripande syftet med denna avhandling var att få kunskap om den omvårdnads teoretiska basen för vård av äldre, och att översätta teorin om gerotransendens till praktiska guidelines, och att införa teorin om gerotranscendens och guidelines i praktiken Studie I, var en litteratursökning med en kvalitativ analys av omvårdnadsteorier. Den visade att dessa teorier inte ger någon vägledning om hur omvårdnad av äldre ska ske eller hur man kan stödja äldre i deras utvecklingsprocess. Därför finns det ett behov att utveckla en omvårdnadsmodell som mer än nuvarande teorier beaktar människans åldrande. Studie II, var en kvalitativ intervjustudie med personal i äldrevård. Intervjuerna analyserades kvalitativt. Studien påvisade att personal behöver mer kunskaper om åldrandeprocessen så att de kan förstå tecken och beteenden de ibland observerar hos de äldre. Detta skulle göra det möjligt för personal att utveckla ett vidare perspektiv för hur de kan stödja äldre personer. I studie III, utarbetades guidelines från teorin om gerotranscendens. Fokus grupps intervjuer användes. Intervjuerna analyserades kvalitativt och teorin om gerotranscendens användes som teoretisk grund. Dessutom ges i studien hänvisning till andra källor som stödjer guidelines. Guidelines kan användas för att stödja en utveckling mot gerotranscendens och kan också vara av värde för personer som redan uppnått gerotranscendens. Guidelines innehåller åtgärder som vårdare kan göra enskild, ger förslag till aktiviteter och organisatoriska åtgärder. I studie IV, introducerades teorin om gerotranscendens och de utarbetade guidelines på ett äldreboende. Kvalitativa intervjuer gjordes med personal och boende och observationer genomfördes. Detta analyserades kvalitativt och triangulering användes, både teorin om gerotranscendens och innovations teori användes som teoretisk grund. Resultatet visade att de mest använda guidelines var de som enskilda vårdare kunde utföra självständigt. Vidare att den personal som förklarade tecken de såg hos äldre i linje med teorin om gerotranscendens, använde också guidelines. Den personal som tidigt tog till sig och stödde användandet av guidelines var de som själva beskrev att de kände igen sig själva i delar av teorin, Det viktigaste resultatet in denna avhandling är att det var möjligt att översätta en teori till praktiskt användbara guidelines. Förmodligen finns det fler teorier som skulle kunna översättas och implementeras i praktisk verksamhet, vilket skulle vara att bygga en bro mellan teori och praktik, och hjälpa personal att kunna omsätta teorier praktiskt. Innovationsteori kan vara av generellt intresse i alla sammanhang när förändringsarbete bedrivs.

Introdução: a vulnerabilidade é um conceito que visa ampliar a compreensão da condição de saúde do ser humano. Posto isto, o objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar a vulnerabilidade individual, social e programática entre idosos que vivem no domicílio e sua associação com os desfechos adversos relacionados aos indicadores da condição de saúde, e mapeá-los espacialmente. Método: trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico de base populacional, do tipo inquérito domiciliar, transversal e observacional, desenvolvido no município de Uberaba (MG). Constituíram a amostra final 701 idosos selecionados por meio da amostragem por conglomerado em múltiplo estágio. Para avaliação do componente individual recorreu-se ao fenótipo de fragilidade; o programático por meio de um indicador de acesso e utilização do serviço de saúde; o social mediante a distribuição espacial dos setores censitários do município deste estudo. Procedeu-se análise descritiva, análise de componentes principais, teste qui-quadrado e modelos de regressão logística, logística multinomial e linear (p<0,05). A análise espacial foi realizada por meio de mapas temáticos. Resultados: constatou-se que 32,0 % dos idosos apresentava as três condições de vulnerabilidade (individual, social e programática) concomitantemente. Evidenciaram-se como fatores associados à condição de fragilidade física: sexo feminino (p=0,015) e faixas etárias de 70 a 79 anos (p=0,013) e 80 anos ou mais (p<0,001). Para condição de elevada/muito elevada vulnerabilidade social predominaram: faixas etárias de 60+ 70 anos (p=0,009) e 70+ 80 anos (p=0,039); ausência de escolaridade (p<0,001) (p<0,001) e 1+4 anos de estudo (p=0,001); e renda mensal < 1 salário mínimo (p=0,007), 1 salário (p=0,013) e 1+3 salários (p=0,027). Já os fatores associados à moderada vulnerabilidade programática foram: faixa etária 70+ 80 anos (p=0,039); não possuir escolaridade (p=0,017), 1+4 anos de estudo (p=0,003) e 4+9 anos de estudo (p=0,029). Na análise de associação entre os componentes da vulnerabilidade, constatou-se menor proporção de idosos frágeis com elevada vulnerabilidade programática quando comparados aos pré-frágeis e não frágeis (p=0,011). Na distribuição espacial dos desfechos adversos de saúde segundo a vulnerabilidade social, houve maior ocorrência de quedas, dependência para AIVD e péssima/má autopercepção de saúde entre idosos residentes em áreas de elevada/muito elevada vulnerabilidade social comparados aos demais. Em relação à associação entre os componentes de vulnerabilidade e os desfechos de saúde, observou-se associação da fragilidade física com todos os desfechos analisados (quedas, hospitalização, dependência para ABVD e AIVD, autopercepção de saúde e número de morbidade). O componente social associou-se à dependência para ABVD e AIVD e à autopercepção de saúde. Já o componente programático permaneceu associado apenas ao maior número de morbidade. Conclusão: os resultados evidenciaram que os idosos estão sujeitos às condições de vulnerabilidade sob as perspectivas biológica, social e no acesso e utilização de serviços de saúde. Infere-se que os componentes individual, social e programático de vulnerabilidade podem influenciar nas condições de saúde de idosos, sendo que a fragilidade física se relacionou a todos os desfechos analisados / Vulnerability is a concept intended to broaden understanding regarding the health condition of people. This study\'s general objective was to analyze the individual, social and programmatic vulnerability of elderly individuals living in the community and its association with adverse outcomes related to health status indicators, in addition to mapping them spatially. Method: This population-based, cross-sectional and observational epidemiological study included a survey conducted in the individuals\' homes in the city of Uberaba, MG, Brazil. The final sample included 701 elderly individuals selected through multistage cluster sampling. The fragility phenotype was used to assess the individual component; the programmatic component was verified through an indicator for access and attendance to health services; and the social component was verified through the spatial distribution of the census sector of the city under study. Descriptive analysis, principal components analysis, and the Chi-square test, in addition to logistic regression models and multinomial logistic regression (p<0.05) were performed. Spatial analysis was conducted using thematic maps. Results: 32.0% of the elderly individuals concomitantly presented three vulnerability conditions (individual, social and programmatic). The factors that appeared associated with a physically frail condition were: being a woman (p=0.015), aged from 70 to 79 years old (p=0.013) or 80 years old or older (p<0.001). The following predominated for conditions of high social vulnerability: aged from 60+ 70 years old (p=0.009) and 70+ 80 years old (p=0.039); no formal education (p<0.001) (p<0.001) and 1+4 years of schooling (p=0.001); and monthly income < 1 times the minimum wage (p=0.007), 1 times the minimum wage (p=0.013) and 1+3 times the minimum wage (p=0.027). The factors associated with moderate programmatic vulnerability were: ages between 70+ 80 (p=0.039); no formal education (p=0.017), 1+4 years of schooling (p=0,003) and 4+9 years of schooling (p=0,029). Analysis of association among vulnerability components revealed a lower proportion of frail elderly individuals with high programmatic vulnerability when compared to their pre-frail and non-frail counterparts (p=0.011). The spatial distribution of adverse health outcomes according to social vulnerability revealed a greater occurrence of falls, dependency for IADLs, and poor/very poor self-perception of health status among those living in areas of high/very high social vulnerability compared to their counterparts. In regard to association among vulnerability components and health outcomes, physical frailty was associated with all outcomes (falls, hospitalization, dependency for ADLs and IADLs, self-perception of health and number of morbidities). The social component was associated with ADL and IADL dependency and self-perception of health. The programmatic component remained associated only with a greater number of morbidities. Conclusion: The results evidenced that elderly individuals are subject to vulnerable conditions from a biological and social perspective also considering access and use of health services. The results suggest that individual, social and programmatic components of vulnerability influence the health conditions of elderly individuals, while physical frailty was related to all the outcomes under study

Introdução: a vulnerabilidade é um conceito que visa ampliar a compreensão da condição de saúde do ser humano. Posto isto, o objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar a vulnerabilidade individual, social e programática entre idosos que vivem no domicílio e sua associação com os desfechos adversos relacionados aos indicadores da condição de saúde, e mapeá-los espacialmente. Método: trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico de base populacional, do tipo inquérito domiciliar, transversal e observacional, desenvolvido no município de Uberaba (MG). Constituíram a amostra final 701 idosos selecionados por meio da amostragem por conglomerado em múltiplo estágio. Para avaliação do componente individual recorreu-se ao fenótipo de fragilidade; o programático por meio de um indicador de acesso e utilização do serviço de saúde; o social mediante a distribuição espacial dos setores censitários do município deste estudo. Procedeu-se análise descritiva, análise de componentes principais, teste qui-quadrado e modelos de regressão logística, logística multinomial e linear (p<0,05). A análise espacial foi realizada por meio de mapas temáticos. Resultados: constatou-se que 32,0 % dos idosos apresentava as três condições de vulnerabilidade (individual, social e programática) concomitantemente. Evidenciaram-se como fatores associados à condição de fragilidade física: sexo feminino (p=0,015) e faixas etárias de 70 a 79 anos (p=0,013) e 80 anos ou mais (p<0,001). Para condição de elevada/muito elevada vulnerabilidade social predominaram: faixas etárias de 60+ 70 anos (p=0,009) e 70+ 80 anos (p=0,039); ausência de escolaridade (p<0,001) (p<0,001) e 1+4 anos de estudo (p=0,001); e renda mensal < 1 salário mínimo (p=0,007), 1 salário (p=0,013) e 1+3 salários (p=0,027). Já os fatores associados à moderada vulnerabilidade programática foram: faixa etária 70+ 80 anos (p=0,039); não possuir escolaridade (p=0,017), 1+4 anos de estudo (p=0,003) e 4+9 anos de estudo (p=0,029). Na análise de associação entre os componentes da vulnerabilidade, constatou-se menor proporção de idosos frágeis com elevada vulnerabilidade programática quando comparados aos pré-frágeis e não frágeis (p=0,011). Na distribuição espacial dos desfechos adversos de saúde segundo a vulnerabilidade social, houve maior ocorrência de quedas, dependência para AIVD e péssima/má autopercepção de saúde entre idosos residentes em áreas de elevada/muito elevada vulnerabilidade social comparados aos demais. Em relação à associação entre os componentes de vulnerabilidade e os desfechos de saúde, observou-se associação da fragilidade física com todos os desfechos analisados (quedas, hospitalização, dependência para ABVD e AIVD, autopercepção de saúde e número de morbidade). O componente social associou-se à dependência para ABVD e AIVD e à autopercepção de saúde. Já o componente programático permaneceu associado apenas ao maior número de morbidade. Conclusão: os resultados evidenciaram que os idosos estão sujeitos às condições de vulnerabilidade sob as perspectivas biológica, social e no acesso e utilização de serviços de saúde. Infere-se que os componentes individual, social e programático de vulnerabilidade podem influenciar nas condições de saúde de idosos, sendo que a fragilidade física se relacionou a todos os desfechos analisados / Vulnerability is a concept intended to broaden understanding regarding the health condition of people. This study\'s general objective was to analyze the individual, social and programmatic vulnerability of elderly individuals living in the community and its association with adverse outcomes related to health status indicators, in addition to mapping them spatially. Method: This population-based, cross-sectional and observational epidemiological study included a survey conducted in the individuals\' homes in the city of Uberaba, MG, Brazil. The final sample included 701 elderly individuals selected through multistage cluster sampling. The fragility phenotype was used to assess the individual component; the programmatic component was verified through an indicator for access and attendance to health services; and the social component was verified through the spatial distribution of the census sector of the city under study. Descriptive analysis, principal components analysis, and the Chi-square test, in addition to logistic regression models and multinomial logistic regression (p<0.05) were performed. Spatial analysis was conducted using thematic maps. Results: 32.0% of the elderly individuals concomitantly presented three vulnerability conditions (individual, social and programmatic). The factors that appeared associated with a physically frail condition were: being a woman (p=0.015), aged from 70 to 79 years old (p=0.013) or 80 years old or older (p<0.001). The following predominated for conditions of high social vulnerability: aged from 60+ 70 years old (p=0.009) and 70+ 80 years old (p=0.039); no formal education (p<0.001) (p<0.001) and 1+4 years of schooling (p=0.001); and monthly income < 1 times the minimum wage (p=0.007), 1 times the minimum wage (p=0.013) and 1+3 times the minimum wage (p=0.027). The factors associated with moderate programmatic vulnerability were: ages between 70+ 80 (p=0.039); no formal education (p=0.017), 1+4 years of schooling (p=0,003) and 4+9 years of schooling (p=0,029). Analysis of association among vulnerability components revealed a lower proportion of frail elderly individuals with high programmatic vulnerability when compared to their pre-frail and non-frail counterparts (p=0.011). The spatial distribution of adverse health outcomes according to social vulnerability revealed a greater occurrence of falls, dependency for IADLs, and poor/very poor self-perception of health status among those living in areas of high/very high social vulnerability compared to their counterparts. In regard to association among vulnerability components and health outcomes, physical frailty was associated with all outcomes (falls, hospitalization, dependency for ADLs and IADLs, self-perception of health and number of morbidities). The social component was associated with ADL and IADL dependency and self-perception of health. The programmatic component remained associated only with a greater number of morbidities. Conclusion: The results evidenced that elderly individuals are subject to vulnerable conditions from a biological and social perspective also considering access and use of health services. The results suggest that individual, social and programmatic components of vulnerability influence the health conditions of elderly individuals, while physical frailty was related to all the outcomes under study

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No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Sheila Moura do Amaral.pdf: 1111506 bytes, checksum: 275ab3b65e80cd23f61a94fcd4b5fee2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-10-30 / practice of gerontological sports conducted by academics from the 3rd adulthood – UFAM”. And more specifically demonstrate how the sports interfered in aspects of cultural dynamics in the life of these academics, systematically broken the cultural tendency of these sports for identifying and searched through family and teachers, the socio-cultural foundations, which passed in the process of gerontological sports these subjects in everyday life. Based on the goals, we opted (chose) for a field research using the qualitative and quantitative approach, through a case study for having addressed a separate group. The sample of the study was attended by 30 subjects: 12 academicians of the 3 rd adulthood, the UFAM, called g erontoatletas aged between 57 and 76 years, 8 relatives of these subjects and 10 teachers who work or worked in the Program. The main technique used was the analysis of the contents Bardin (2004). For data collection with gerontes used a route of semi - structured interview with 5 guiding questions. Already approach with the family and teachers, the instrument used were two separate questionnaires, both with 4 questions characteristics of open and closed. For this analysis tool to use descriptive statistics. The results pointed to a number of gerontological sports interference in daily life of those surveyed, appearing as a promoter of social, cultural and physical education. We also noticed that the socio -cultural foundations on which passed the sports, can manifest itself as competition, play or leisure, representing overcoming limits. Relatives (100%) say it is important to involve the elderly in sports, noting changes in social interaction, improvement in health and a growing establishment of ties of friendship. The teachers confirmed (100%) significant changes in the socio - cultural behavior of the elderly, and stressed that the meaning of the games, for them, is competition and personal achievement. Results obtained, we show that the practice of Sports gerontological by scholars of the “Idoso Feliz Participa Sempre, 3 rd adulthood of UFAM – (PIFPS-U3IA)”, influenced directly to changes in the dynamics of the cultural life of a portion of Manaus city of elderly, clearly pointing to the benefits that social and cultural programs focused on gerontological practice of sports can provide people in the process of aging. / O presente estudo objetivou investigar sobre o fenômeno da “Dinâmica cultural de 10 anos da prática dos esportes gerontológicos de acadêmicos da 3ª Idade Adulta – UFAM. De modo mais específico procurou demonstrar como os Esportes gerontológicos interferiram em aspectos da dinâmica cultural na vida destes acadêmicos, distinguindo sistematicamente a tendência cultural destes esportes para os pesquisados, e identificando através de familiares e professores, as bases sócio-culturais, em que transcorreu o processo dos esportes gerontológicos no cotidiano destes sujeitos. Com base nos objetivos, optamos por uma pesquisa de campo utilizando a abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa, através de um estudo de caso por ter abordado um grupo isolado. A amostra do estudo contou com 30 sujeitos: 12 acadêmicos da 3a idade adulta, da UFAM, denominados gerontoatletas com idade entre 57 e 76 anos, oito familiares destes sujeitos e 10 professores que atuam ou atuaram no Programa. A técnic a principal utilizada foi à análise de conteúdo de Bardin (2004). Para a coleta de dados com gerontes utilizamos um roteiro de entrevista semi -estruturada com cinco questões norteadoras. Já abordagem com os familiares e professores, o instrumento utilizado foram dois questionários distintos, ambos, com quatro perguntas de características abertas e fechadas. Para análise deste instrumento utilizamos a estatística descritiva. Os resultados apontaram para várias interferências dos esportes gerontológicos no cotidiano dos pesquisados, aparecendo como dinamizador dos aspectos sociais, culturais físicos e educacionais. Verificamos também que as bases sócio-culturais em que transcorreram os esportes, podem manifestar -se como competição, brincadeira ou lazer, representando também superação de limites. Os familiares (100%) afirmaram ser importante a participação dos idosos nos esportes, observando mudanças no convívio social, melhora na saúde e uma crescente constituição de laços de amizade. As professoras confirmaram (100%) Mudanças significativas no comportamento sócio -cultural dos idosos, e destacaram que o sentido dos jogos, para eles, é de competição e de realização pessoal. D iante dos resultados obtidos, evidenciamos que a Prática dos Esportes Gerontológicos por acadêmicos do Programa Idoso Feliz Participa Sempre da 3ª Idade Adulta da UFAM - (PIFPS-U3IA), influenciou diretamente para mudanças na dinâmica cultural da vida de uma parcela de idosos da cidade de Manaus, apontando claramente para os benefícios sociais e culturais que programas voltados para prática de esportes gerontológicos podem proporcionar as pessoas em fase de envelhecimento.

The purpose of this thesis has been to explore the discursive production of delirium in people over the age of 65 years. The philosophical approaches underpinning the study were derived from the field of critical gerontology, postmodernism and the utilisation of a Foucauldian understanding of discourse and power/knowledge. Data sources included published documents on delirium, interviews with people over the age of 65 years who had been delirious (as well as their clinical notes), family members, registered nurses and a doctor.Textual analysis revealed the presence of two contesting and contradictory discourses that impacted on being an older person who had delirium. These were identified as the discourse of delirium as a syndrome and a personal discourse of delirium. The discourse of delirium as a syndrome is underpinned by the biomedicalisation of the ageing process. This process utilises scientific methods as the foundation from which to understand, research and provide a health service to older people with delirium. Any personal perspectives on delirium are rendered unimportant and relegated to marginalised positions. Nursing through its vicarious relationship to medicine is interpellated into deploying the discourse of delirium as a syndrome and has largely ignored the personal dimensions associated with this phenomenon. Consequently, the older delirious 'body' is known and inscribed as unruly, problematic, physically unwell, cognitively impaired and at risk.Conversely, a personal discourse of delirium privileges the individual narratives of people who have been delirious and provides a different perspective of delirium. The deployment of a personal discourse of delirium offers another position that views this group of older people as bringing to the health care setting a rich tapestry of life experiences that are more than a cluster of signs and symptoms. It is these varied life experiences that need to be included as a legitimate source of knowledge about delirium. This thesis demonstrates how nursing needs to espouse a critical gerontological position when working with older people who have delirium. Critical gerontology provides nurses with the theoretical tools to challenge the status quo and uncover the multiple, varied, contradictory and complex representations of delirium in older people.

The overall aim of this thesis is to describe what it means to be old and live with multimorbidity. An additional aim is to examine and describe the contextual meaning of the phenomenon in ordinary housing and nursing homes, and a third aim is to deepen our understanding of the situation for old people who also are ill. The thesis uses a caring science perspective and a reflective lifeworld approach founded on phenomenological philosophy. This approach searches for and describes the meaning of a phenomenon, its variations and its essential meaning structure. Interviews were used for data collection and data were analyzed for meaning, searching for the essence of the phenomenon. The findings are presented in two empirical studies and one philosophical excursion. The empirical studies have been further thematized with the essential meanings from the empirical studies. The philosophical excursion is the result of a more profound understanding of the thematized meanings. The essential meaning of being old and living with multimorbidity in ordinary housing is described as a struggle to maintain identity in a life situation that changes. Multimorbidity and aging pose existential barriers at the same time as the possibility of living an independent life and being oneself is hindered. Ordinary housing is experienced as a place where the old can be themselves, and a place that is associated with independence. On the other hand, multimorbidity threatens the possibility of continuing to live in their private homes, as does the failure of others to meet the old as individuals. The essential meaning of being old and living with multimorbidity in nursing homes is described as striving for independence which brings with it a zest for life and a feeling of security. The older’s degree of independence can change due to the fragile health situation, and is characterized by the experience of not being a burden for the busy caregivers and relatives. Independence can change to insecurity, vulnerability and helplessness. The themes of essential meaning that have been extracted from the empirical studies suggest that the experiences of frailty and loneliness differ more between those living in ordinary housing and in nursing homes than the experiences of trust and independence differ. The philosophical excursion illuminates how older people with multimorbidity experience their lives as an ability to manage their daily lives and not merely an absence of disease symptoms. A person is “just” sick, independently of the objective quantity of diseases s/he may suffer from. Health and wellbeing occur from the ability to live in existential coherence, which is encouraged when the older people are allowed to retain their habits, the ability to be oneself, individual’s life story and by social relationships, as well as by continuity among the caregivers.