Perceptions of aging and falling ill: a study with elderly persons in palliative care

Abstract

Objective: to learn the perceptions of elderly persons in palliative care regarding coping with aging and illness. Method: an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study was carried out. The study included 11 elderly persons in palliative care because of oncologic disease. Semi-structured interviews were carried out which were analyzed with the aid of the ALCESTE software. Results: two axes were identified from the content analysis. The first, Resist to Survive and Live, has two categories: the first, aging with integrity, portrays the positive perception of the participants regarding the aging process, and coping strategies used to deal with aging and with illness; the other category, resilient development, refers to the life trajectories of the participants and the adversities of the process of development and aging. The second axis, Resist to Die Well, has only one category and refers to the perceptions of the elderly about the stress related to illness. Conclusion: the results show that the perceptions of aging and falling ill involved resilience, as the participants focused on what they had gained rather than their losses. In this context, they used resilient coping strategies: spiritual support, cognitive restructuring, and acceptance.

Resilience in Older People: A Concept Analysis

“…For studies with a qualitative approach to resilience, it was observed, in the objectives of the evaluations, the interest in exploring significant life events and experiences [ 21 , 32 , 39 , 48 , 52 , 60 , 77 , 119 ]; exploring events of adversity and confrontation [ 29 , 34 , 47 , 60 ]; exploring resilience [ 26 , 28 , 44 , 45 , 111 ]; exploring support mechanisms [ 39 , 47 , 63 , 77 , 82 ]; measuring social support [ 22 , 25 , 28 , 77 , 127 ]; measuring self-efficacy [ 22 ]; measuring self-awareness [ 30 , 40 , 112 ]; physical and cognitive performance [ 51 , 87 ]; exploring what is getting old [ 39 , 127 ]; resilient characteristics [ 39 , 86 , 127 ]. Specifically, in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the questions focused on exploring challenges experienced [ 25 ]; how the COVID-19 Pandemic affected their lives [ 25 ]; what the changes in that period were; social networks and assistance from government agencies or communities during the pandemic [ 25 ]; serious financial impact during the COVID-19 Pandemic; strategies, resources and processes do older adults [ …”

“…,50,53,54,59,67-69,79,80,82,88,95,96,100,126]; positive perspective and experience of ageing (active aging; independence and autonomy; values socialization; personal behaior)[11,21,22,25,26,29,31,34,39,40,44,45,[47][48][49][50]60,61,63,64,69,70,73,75,78,81,82,85,86,88,95,97,100,101,103,104,[106][107][108][109]111,112,116,121,[127][128][129]; grief and loss experience[42,43,51,…”

ENVELHECIMENTO E CÂNCER: O processo de adoecimento oncológico em idosos

“…Porém, os mesmos mostram preferência em ter acesso completo acerca do seu quadro de saúde (Ribeiro & Borges, 2018). Em seu livro denominado A morte é um dia que vale a pena viver, a médica geriátrica Ana Claudia Quintana Arantes expõe sua vivência com essa questão:…”

“…Enfrentar o câncer e seu tratamento demanda da pessoa que está passando por essa experiência uma notável resiliência e persistência, conforme observado por Rocha et al (2014). O suporte espiritual representa uma maneira eficaz de lidar com o estresse relacionado ao envelhecimento e à enfermidade, isso evidencia o papel essencial desse suporte na atribuição de significado ao processo de vida (Ribeiro & Borges 2018). Do mesmo modo, no contexto do tratamento quimioterápico, observa-se que esse tipo de suporte é uma ferramenta acessível e amplamente adotada por pacientes oncológicos durante a quimioterapia, pois os mesmos buscam enfrentar os eventos estressantes associados a esse tratamento, incluindo as toxicidades que comumente resultam em desconforto físico e psicológico (Filho & Khoury, 2018).…”

Resilience in the Elderly: A Concept Analysis

“…For studies with a qualitative approach to resilience, it was observed, in the objectives of the evaluations, the interest in exploring significant life events and experiences [21,32,39,48,52,60,77,119]; exploring events of adversity and confrontation [29,34,47,60]; exploring resilience [26,28,44,45,111]; exploring support mechanisms [39,47,63,77,82]; measuring social support [22,25,28,77,127]; measuring self-efficacy [22]; measuring selfawareness [30,40,112]; physical and cognitive performance [51,87]; exploring what is getting old [39,127]; resilient characteristics [39,86,127]. Specifically, in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the questions focused on exploring challenges experienced [25]; how the COVID-19 Pandemic affected their lives [25]; what the changes in that period were; social networks and assistance from government agencies or communities during the pandemic [25]; serious financial impact during the COVID-19 Pandemic; strategies, resources and processes do older adults [86].…”