Representações sociais sobre envelhecer com deficiência: um estudo com famílias

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate an emerging social phenomenon, aging with disability, with families as subjects producing social representations. This research is justified by the context of social deprotection experienced by Brazilian families in situations of social vulnerability, whether due to economic reasons, violations of rights or new family configurations. We use as main reference the Theory of Social Representations proposed by Serge Moscovici, seeking to identify the central and peripheral core of these representations according to the structural approach of Jean-Claude Abric. The issue of disability, aging and the family was approached from a conception of social protection of the State advocated by the National Social Assistance Policy. This research was qualitative, where we used a free evocation task from the term "aging with disability" and a focal group. The research was carried out in a Special Social Protection Service of the Social Assistance Policy for Persons with Disabilities in the city of Volta Redonda / RJ, involving 90 relatives who live directly with the person with intellectual disability and 08 participants to the focal group. The results reveal that the terms "love," "difficulty," "dedication," and "patience" were most often evoked as the likely central core of social representation. Family members also pointed out that during many years of care, families adapt to this reality, but still presenting difficulties in the legal, health, relationships with the extended family and in the conflictual experience of feelings towards the future caregiver.