Abstract

MICHEL, Tatiane; LENARDT, Maria Helena; BETIOLLI, Susanne Elero  and  NEU, Dâmarys Kohlbeck de Melo. Meaning assigned by the elderly to the experience at a long stay institution: contributions for the nursing care. Texto contexto - enferm. [online]. 2012, vol.21, n.3, pp. 495-504. ISSN 0104-0707.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-07072012000300002.

It is an ethnographic study which aims to interpret the meaning attributed by the elderly to the experience at a Long Stay Institution for the Elderly, in the municipality of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. The information was collected by participant observation and ethnographic interviews, between January and August 2010, at a private and for-profit institution, and it was analyzed in domains, taxonomies and cultural theme. The key informants were elderly residents chosen by criteria of inclusion. Cultural domains that emerged were: reasons that led to live in the institution; ways of living; daily activities; activities promoted by the institution; feelings attributed to the experience; institution attributes; residents attributes and the cultural theme: in search of the nectar of life. This experience meant to the elderly the possibility of being cared, broadly understood as maintenance of life and well-being optimization, and also implying in actions of nursing care.

Keywords : Aged; Homes for the aged; Research; Nursing; Anthropology, cultural.