The group is our medicine
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Love, friendship and family |
Companionship, partnership, love, friendship and affection are highlighted features for taking part in the group, which develop strong ties, similar those of a close family, that provide safety, support, and appreciation. |
[...] and love, we feel when others love us and we love other people in return, I myself am a very loving person [crying], if someone misses a meeting I am like: why was he/she not here, why did this person not come? (FG I) [...]this here is the friendship with the group, which is one hand holding another, if I fall and she is my friend, she will pick me up. (FG I) I think there is also their integrity, they are united, relate well with each other, with much friendship, so much love between them and us, so it is a team. (FG CHA) [...] it is a lot of love, dedication, it is a great deal of love, it is very important to me. (FG CHA) Because I consider the people there as part of my family, a family that gives strength to each other, with a smile, a hug, friendship, so I feel very comfortable. (FG I) [...] we are a brotherhood, we are not angry at anyone, we are good friends, it is the same kind of thing between a father and son, a mother and daughter. (FG I) I think it is like a family, with much respect, a lot of friendship, so much love is extreme dedication, come rain or shine. (FG CHA) |
Unity is strength |
Cohesion is highlighted as a great potentializer of the group operation, which is evidenced by the solidarity, empathy and union. These aspects ensure biopsychosocial equilibrium, socialization and enhanced ability to confront difficulties. |
The important aspect of this group is the union, this is why they always keep us together, with nobody leaving, each day it just keeps getting bigger, each person inviting another. (FG I) Everyone tries to help each other, no one behaves badly towards anyone. So, if we cannot help, the group will not make things worse. (FG I) Our union is good, we are united, those who want to laugh, laugh, those who want to tell jokes do so, me personally, I like everyone. (FG I) We help to cheer people up, to give them strength, like when she herself wanted to go away and did not have the money, and I did, so I gave her the money, I paid for her trip, even bought her a swimsuit, so we are happy to be able to help a person participate in the group. (FG I) They help each other, if there is any activity that someone is not involved in, they help, they teach. If we do an exercise and make a mistake doing so, the others fix it. (FG CHA) |
Life lessons |
Group participation means that people have the opportunity to talk to others, along with their eccentricities and different ways of coping. Stories about life and overcoming difficulties are examples that enable learning, coexistence, respect and consequent personal growth. |
The group taught us to live, to love, it taught me to be more patient with my life, with my job, I am not feeling the pressure as much as I used to, which was a big problem for me in the past. (FG I) “The thing is, I thought I was the world’s biggest sufferer, nobody could suffer more than I did. There I learned by looking down that there was another deeper level, that I could hold out my hand, then I accepted it.”(GF I) I also find very important when the health agents teach us about being more united with others, our families, friends, and colleagues. You therefore learn to get along with people outside and inside our homes, with those inside.(FG I) [...] there is a change that occurs in the mental aspect. We saw that they arrived in a bad mood, they sometimes did not like physical comfort, they did not like us to touch them, they did not like us to play, and today, they get here and embrace us.(GF ACS) Today, I see the group as something in my life that changed the way I am, the way I think, I see it really as recognition of what they once were, of what they did. (GF ACS) |
Healthy living and learning
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The strength of coexistence, from the stories of overcoming difficulty and the awareness that we are not alone, strengthens the desire to improve the physical condition throughphysical activities, controlling medication and promoting health. Practicing physical activity is also mixed with fun and recreational activitiesand tours, which generates learning and provides mental and spiritual health. |
The group involves a lot of good things, we know that the group brings a lot of happiness, and that happiness is inside, and it is this inner happiness that beams to the outside, it also strengthens our physical being, problems such as illness, if you have any, end up getting better, becoming solved. (FG I) I went to the group and thought it was great, my blood pressure subsequently improved and remained stable. So, the important point of this group for my life is that it is good for my health. Because I have been feeling a lot better since I began going to this group. (FG I) It is very important there. There we take our blood pressure, do physical activity, so it helps a lot, because when one reaches a certain age one cannot be idle, because otherwise we give up, at the group we do activities that helps a great deal. (FG I) The important aspect of the group is that we are always meeting, sharing information about everything that is going on, it is about knowing if everything is fine with the group, if you are taking your medication properly, this is how it is, and this kind of thing encourages us, and we miss the group, because when you do not have someone reminding you, you forget things. (FG I) |
Priceless leadership
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The leadership provided by the group coordinators is highlighted as being responsible for the success and cohesion of the group. The professionalism, love, dedication and belief in the potential of the group characterize the coordination that acts with satisfaction and no obligation. |
The agents are best aspect of the group, because they treat us very well, they talk to us, give us advice, they help us during the physical activity. (FG I) I like the health agents, they are really kind and nice people, which is why I am still with them. (FG I) They really helped as only they would. The health care agents, those girls, are a blessing. You may be down in the dumps and they come up to you and really lift your spirit, there is no sadness in them, they really cheer us up.(FG I) Firstly, we have to like what we do, we the health agents. If they did not participate in the group, the group would not exist, which would be true if we had to coordinate the group, so I think that we have to really like what we do and do it well, because just as happens in the group, we do go above and beyond, we play with them, there is no mechanical thing that we do when we get there, we only do some stretching and we are ready, we make up games because we believe that it is important for us to do so. (FG CHA) [...] the integration, the participation is important, but I see that no matter how integrated the group is, the leadership is important, a good leadership, a leadership that is creative. (FG CHA) |