Experiências de lazer de idosos independentes institucionalizados

Abstract

This master's thesis aimed at describing the past, present and future leisure experiences of elderly citizens from philanthropic long-term collective residential homes (ILPI) that receive funding from the Belo Horizonte City Hall, located in Brazil. The theoretical background of this thesis was based on leisure studies, and on scientific publications on aging and institutionalized elders. 47 residents and 15 directors of the ILPIs were interviewed. Residents' average age was 79.5 years, and they have been living in ILPIs from three months to 17 years. Data collection was through individual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were taped, transcribed, and later analyzed with both qualitative and quantitative approach based on content analysis. Similar thematic units found in the transcribed interviews were organized into categories, and the frequency of response on each category was calculated. Results showed that ILPI directors perceive leisure as important for the residents' quality of life; nonetheless, results also showed that offering leisure practices is not a priority for the institution. Interviews with the directors indicated difficulties with facilities, lack of financial resources, convincing residents to engage on leisure practices, high dependency on volunteers in order to offer leisure activities, and the absence of one same single leisure practice offered in all ILPIs through public policy. Resident's perception of free-time was linked to their life style. Before retiring the residents had few leisure activities and were not prepared for the future free-time. Women had leisure practices associated with housework and family interests, whereas men engaged in sports and socialization practices during leisure-time. Many residents retired for health reasons and had low expectations on how to enjoy free-time; this result is also reported in previous studies conducted in Brazil. Compared to the life pre-ILPI, residents reported more opportunities of engaging in leisure/recreation practices; this result is opposite to the ones previously published in the country. Also, the nature of the resident's participation on current leisure practices in the ILPI is related to what they have experienced throughout life. Resident's future plans for leisure were short-term based and associated to activities already offered in the ILPI or activities that they cannot perform due to physical limitations. For the residents, leisure is important for it allows the opportunity to create/develop/maintain interpersonal relationships. The most cited leisure activities were rides (e.g., going to a museum, church), religious practices, balls, and music. Results suggest that there is a need for leisure practices in the ILPIs, specially because these practices have a very important educational dimension and also might help to create/develop/maintain interpersonal relationships. Nevertheless, a multidisciplinary approach is a must if leisure is to be offered to improve quality of life and guarantee civil rights to institutionalized elderly in Brazil.