Functionality is a crucial dimension of the health of the elderly. The aim of this work is to investigate the elements that comprise the significance of disability for the elderly residents of the city of Bambuí in the state of Minas Gerais. A qualitative approach was adopted in which the model of signs, significance and actions was used in both data collection and analysis. Interviews were conducted with 57 elderly individuals (30 women; 27 men) ranging from 61 to 96 years of age registered in primary care units. The participants interpret functionality/disability (disease) as "being able to cope/not being able to cope" or "being a burden" (illness) to others. "Not being able to cope" refers to the inexorable functional loss inherent to the aging process, while "being a burden" relates to the permanent condition of generating pain and suffering to both patient and care giver. The way to deal with the "not being able to cope" condition is related to resignation. On the other hand, praying is the way to deal with "being a burden." Religion and resignation can help during critical moments, though they also reveal the lack of resources and alternatives for support and intervention in the most severe cases.
Anthropology; Elderly individuals; Disability; Functionality