Consequências emocionais e afetivas em idosos institucionalizados na contemporaneidade

In Brazil, the aging rate has increased every year, this phenomenon occurs due to low mortality and fertility rates. As the population ages, the demand for long-term care facilities for the elderly (ILPI) increases; socioeconomic, sociocultural difficulties and the progressive family distancing are reasons for this search. The institutionalization process caused by the change from the family environment to an LSIE can trigger emotional and affective consequences, generate negative symptoms of adaptation, loss of autonomy, social isolation, loss of identity and freedom, low self-esteem, a state of loneliness and often refusal life itself, which justifies the high prevalence of mental illnesses in LSIEs, which are aggravated by the natural aging process itself. Therefore, it is necessary to think about promoting the healthy aging of institutionalized elderly people. In this sense, a bibliographical research was carried out in order to create a video to raise awareness of the problem studied. The video was aired on Youtube, with public access and disseminated through the researchers' social networks, in the period between 06/02/2021 to 06/18/2021, there were 28 views. An investigation of public opinion was carried out from the video, through a qualitative questionnaire released through a link in the description of the video. Focused on respondents who maintain direct contact with institutionalized elderly, such as: the general population, family members and professionals who work in LSIEs. Eighteen questionnaires were filled out, 10 of which do not know an institutionalized elderly person, 3 who know elderly people who live in ILPI and 5 health professionals and caregivers who work with institutionalized elderly people. As a result, the general population showed awareness about the importance of public policies for institutionalized elderly. In relation to the family, it was found that there is a distance between them and the elderly. Professionals who work with the elderly demonstrated that they know the importance of individualized care. Based on theoretical and practical work, we were able to analyze the intricate issues that the elderly person suffers from institutionalization, as well as bringing the perspectives of different audiences that signal the importance of having public policies that promote access to favorable care, involving the family and community, thus ensuring the integrity and continuity of this elderly subject to a healthy aging, in order to make him not an “institutionalized elderly”, but a dignified citizen with preserved rights.