A rede social e os tipos de apoio recebidos por idosos institucionalizados / The social network and types of support received by the institutionalized elderly

RESUMO

Estudo descritivo que teve como objetivo identificar a composição da rede de apoio social de idosos institucionalizados, bem como os tipos e as quantidades de apoios recebidos por eles. O apoio social tem função importante no enfretamento das perdas e limitações da velhice. Participaram 30 idosos institucionalizados com média de idade de 74 anos. Foram aplicadas entrevistas e a escala de apoio social para identificar a composição da rede social e tipos de apoio social que os idosos recebiam. A rede social desses idosos era composta, em ordem decrescente de quantidade, por familiares, amigos, internos e funcionários da instituição. Embora esses idosos possuíssem familiares vivos, 29 deles recebiam mais apoio social dos amigos do que de seus familiares. Somente 13 recebiam apoio de poucos familiares (em média 1,8 membros da família ofereciam apoio aos idosos), sugerindo a existência de comprometimentos na relação desses idosos com os familiares. Os idosos recebiam apoio material, afetivo e emocional quase sempre e apoios de informação e de interação social positiva, às vezes. A conclusão, pelos resultados, é que os idosos recebiam apoio de poucas pessoas de suas redes sociais.

ABSTRACT

This is a descriptive study which aimed at identifying the composition of social support networks of the institutionalized elderly, as well as the types and quantity of support received. The social support network has an important role when dealing with the losses and limitations of old age. Thirty institutionalized elderly (with a median age of 74) participated in the study. To identify the composition of social support and types of support received by the institutionalized elderly, interviews and a social support scale were applied. The social support network of the institutionalized elderly was composed in descending order of the quantity of support received from acquaintances, friends, the other institutionalized and the workers of the institution. Even though the institutionalized elderly had living acquaintances, 29 received more support from friends than from their acquaintances. Only 13 of the elderly received support from few acquaintances (in median 1.8 members of the family offered support to the institutionalized elderly), suggesting an existence of a weak relationship between the institutionalized elderly and their acquaintances. The institutionalized elderly almost always received material, affectionate and emotional support and at times they received informational and interactive positive social support. The outcomes yielded evidence that the institutionalized elderly received support from few people and their social networks.