Development of cognitive and motor stimulation activities: perspective of institutionalized elderly

ABSTRACT

Objective  To analyze the development of cognitive and motor stimulation activities from the perspective of institutionalized elderly.

Method  Qualitative research with 13 institutionalized elderly people from a municipality of Paraná, Brazil. Activities of cognitive and motor stimulation were carried out and, afterwards, semi-structured interviews. The data were submitted to Similitude Analysis using IraMuTeQ^® software.

Results  The graphic representation formed by the central zone “activity”; linked to the peripheral areas “head”, “good”, “difficult” and “easy”, evidenced the perception of the elderly on the benefits of the activities. They considered that the activities, especially those of motor stimulation, generate health benefits, because they promote body exercise. The cognitive stimulus was related to the improvement of the performance of skills, such as memory, reasoning, concentration and attention. It was identified that in the category of motor stimulus, there are different degrees of difficulty among the elderly, related to the functional decline that they present. The activities provided leisure moments for the elderly.

Final considerations and implications for practice  The institutionalized elderly experience a generalized routine limited to biological needs to the detriment of the stimulation of cognitive and motor functions. This stimulation is necessary in order to achieve comprehensive care for the elderly.

Keywords:
Health of Institutionalized Elderly; Cognition; Mobility Limitation