RESUMO
Although there have been some studies that explore the meaning of aging and give voice to older people, the impact that the aging experience can have on them justifies continued research in this area. In this study, with a hermeneutic phenomenological design and an interpretation method inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur, we conducted in-depth interviews with 14 elderly people at a social day center in Rome (Italy). The analysis revealed three central themes associated with the experience of being old: changes and limitations related with being aged, the experience that comes from having lived a long life, and an awareness of death. The findings could help health professionals, families and caregivers to achieve a deeper understanding of what old age entails, and may also serve as a platform for interventions that seek to enable older people to experience aging as a meaningful and positive process.