The Path of Hope in Relationships Involving Older Adults: The Perspective From the Complexity of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: to reflect on the relationships involving the older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of complexity, envisioning the path of hope. Method: this is a reflection based on the Theory of Complexity, according to Edgar Morin, and on articles addressing the new coronavirus. Results: the experiences during the pandemic showed economic, social, health, cultural, ethical, and moral difficulties in relation to the older adults. Facing the uncertainties of COVID-19 teaches about the attitude towards this inevitable involvement in the individual and collective life, as well as in the history of the country and the world - a problem aggravated by the fears of humanity. Therefore, adapting society and remodeling it with regard to relationships with the older adults can translate into success against the pandemic disease. This induces thought reform, reorganizing the understanding of the older adults, which currently involves scattered, disjoint, compartmentalized, and excluding thinking. This reform is broad, deep, paradigmatic, cultural, ethical, and moral, which strengthens the culture of aging, propagating and democratizing the poetry of living, allowing the older adults to know the beauty of emotions, and to discover their own truths through the masterpieces of their lives. However, this intention presupposes a metamorphosis of individualism, oppression, and exclusion, in whose context gerontological nursing is fundamental. Conclusion: the transformations experienced during the pandemic may be the prelude to changing relationships with the older adults, through multiple reforming and transforming processes that come together, by the strengthening of gerontological nursing. Perhaps the pandemic moment is the beginning of the path of hope for new times of Humanity's dignity.

Factors Associated With Symptoms of Depression Among Older Adults During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…In addition to this scenario, there is the abrupt interruption of family ties and interactions that should involve them in love, and protection in the face of the complexity of experiencing a pandemic. 9 The disconnection from society and the social isolation of older adults put them in a situation of greater vulnerability to psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. 8 A study that used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with 33 institutionalized elderly, pointed out the predominance of females for moderate and severe symptoms of depression and the relationship between symptoms and a report of falls in the last year in 36.4% of the investigated population.…”

Contribuições Do Cuidar Em Humanitude Durante a Pandemia Em Uma Instituição Para Idosos Em Portugal

“…Durante a pandemia COVID-19, diversas são as crises vivenciadas pela humanidade, tornando-se um desafio ainda maior para a população idosa a qual pode ser duramente afetada por esse quadro pandêmico. Dessa forma, a necessidade de fortalecer e estreitar as práticas de cuidado conduzidas pela segurança e respeito são apontadas como fundamentais 20 . Essas questões podem ser identificadas nas falas que reforçam as práticas de promoção de autocuidado, realizadas com esses idosos, os quais conseguem manter o relacionamento entre si, preservando atividades de interação que podem ser vistas como um recurso para o enfrentamento dos desafios vivenciados na pandemia.…”

“…É necessário considerarmos que diferentes culturas proporcionam diferentes realidades, o que fica claro em um estudo 25 desenvolvido com 38 profissionais que trabalham em (ILPI) no Brasil, o qual observou problemas que comprometem as práticas de cuidado preconizado, entre eles está a negligência, o desrespeito, a compreensão da velhice como algo negativo e a ausência de políticas públicas 25 . Essas questões são associadas ao entendimento sociocultural que permeia o sujeito idoso, e que diante da pandemia podem ser acentuadas, reforçando assim a necessidade de uma mudança social e de uma reflexão sobre a atuação profissional 20 . Quando confrontados pela MCH, esses problemas podem ser considerados como agravantes negativos da assistência prestada a idosos.…”

Elderly people's experience facing social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Estudo que objetivou refletir acerca das relações de idosos durante a pandemia COVID-19 sob o olhar da complexidade, que visa o caminho da esperança, sustenta e remete para um entrosar das categorias emergentes no presente estudo, ao apontar que os sentimentos apresentados por idosos em virtude do isolamento social incluem o medo de morrer (15) .…”