Influence of the process of aging in the quality of life of human beings: discovering meanings

Abstract

Nowadays, innumerable factors intervene and/or influence the process of human aging. Such factors are closely linked to the basic necessities of human beings, both psycho-social and spiritual. This is an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach with the objective of identifying perceptions and meanings people have towards the aging process. The data was collected from May 2 to June 2, 2006, using a questionnaire applied to 35 individuals with minimum age of 45. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of Unisul - Brazil. Significant categories of the aging process were found: alterations of sexuality, body changes, being grandfather and grandmother and retiring. Plenty of evidence was found for the in the aging of the population, and also that human beings are aging without adequate care for quality of life as senior citizens. In order to assure quality of life for the elderly, education actions are essential in all phases of human development.