RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Many older adults in Colombia have lived through violent and stressful life events, particularly in areas of poverty. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the impact of stressful life events on the mental health and wellbeing of older Colombians living in areas of relative poverty. METHODS: Older adults (aged 60+) living in the Turbo region in Colombia were interviewed face-to-face between August and December 2021. Transcripts were coded in Spanish and English by at least two researchers, using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-six older adults participated in the study. Four overarching themes were generated: Living in violent and dangerous communities; Disturbing gender violence and gender roles; Lack of mental health awareness; Coping mechanisms. Older adults experienced a long narrative of stressful life events. Younger generations appeared to disrespect older members of Society. Without any mental health support, older adults coped by accepting the extreme situations or seeking solace in their faith. CONCLUSIONS: The health system and Government need to build up trust and generate an awareness of mental health, as older Colombians will not approach psychological support otherwise. Intergenerational community-based interventions may provide a first avenue of mental health support.
RESUMEN
ntroducción: En el marco de un proceso formativo en 5 ciudades de Colombia, impartido por la Universidad de Antioquia y financiado por PROTECCIÓN S.A. entre los años 2018 2020, se planteó como obje-tivo: analizar los significados del cuidado que construyen los cuidadores de personas mayores en las ciudades de Rionegro, Bogotá, Cali, Pereira y Medellín. Materiales y métodos: 202 participantes, con edades com-prendidas entre los 21 y los 73 años. Se desarrolló un estudio etnográfico particularista y colaborativo. Se realizaron 6 entrevistas individuales a cuidadores y expertos; se desarrolló observación participante y no parti-cipante de las clases del diplomado y de algunos contextos de cuidado. Resultados: El amor, la preservación de la existencia, el servicio, el sentido de vida y la responsabilidad fueron los significados que sobresa-lieron en los cuidadores de personas mayores, la transformación de es-tos significados se denota en la dedicación que destinan para la persona mayor cuidada, permitiendo incluso, una perspectiva de autocuidado. Conclusiones: La labor de cuidar es un acto que compromete la vida emocional tanto del cuidador como de la persona mayor cuidada. Se identificó que el proceso de formación favoreció la creación de redes de cuidadores, los cuáles en la medida del proceso formativo, evidenciaron capacidad de transformar visiones y significados; replantear situaciones particulares; comprender la necesidad de cuidar de sí, para cuidar a otro; la creación de lazos de solidaridad; las experiencias del trabajo interdis-ciplinar y el interés por capacitarse y compartir conocimientos.
Introduction: Within the framework of a training process in 5 cities of Colombia, given by the University of Antioquia and financed by PROTECCIÓN S.A. between the years 2018 - 2020, the objective was set: to analyze the meanings of the care that the caregivers of the elderly build in the cities of Rionegro, Bogotá, Cali, Pereira and Medellín. Materials and methods: 202 participants, between 21 and 73 years old. A particularist and collaborative ethnographic study was developed. Six individual interviews were conducted with caregivers and experts; participant and non-parti-cipant observation of the diploma classes and some care contexts was developed. Results: love, preservation of existence, service, meaning of life and responsibility were the meanings that stood out in the caregivers of older people, the transformation of these meanings is denoted in the de-dication they give to the older person being cared for, even allowing a perspective of self-care. Conclusions: the work of caring is an act that compromises the emotional life of both the care-giver and the elderly carer. It was identified that the formation process favored the creation of caregivers' networks, which in the measure of the formation process, showed capacity to trans-form visions and meanings; to rethink particular situations; to understand the need to take care of oneself, to take care of another; the creation of solidarity ties; the experiences of interdisciplinary work and the interest in training and sharing knowledge
Introdução: No marco do processo formativo em cinco cidades da Colômbia, oferecido pela Universidade de Antioquia e financiado por PROTECCIÓN S.A entre os anos 2018 e 2020 plan-teou-se o objetivo de analisar os significados de cuidado construídos por cuidadores de pessoas idosas nas cidades de Rionegro, Bogotá, Cali, Pereira e Medellín. Materiais e métodos: 202 participantes, com idades entre 21 e 73 anos. Desenvolveu-se um estudo etnográfico particularista e colaborativo, realizaram-se 6 entrevistas individuais a cuidadores e expertos; desenvolveu-se observação participante e não participante das aulas do curso e de alguns contextos de cuidado. Resultados: O amor, a preservação da existência, o serviço, o sentido da vida e a responsabili-dade foram os significados que se destacaram nos cuidadores de pessoas idosas. A transformação desses significados evidenciou-se na dedicação à pessoa idosa, permitindo incluso a perspectiva do autocuidado. Conclusões: O papel de cuidar é um ato que compromete a vida emocional tanto do cuidador como da pessoa idosa cuidada, identificou-se que o processo de formação favorecei a criação de redes de cuidadores, os quais na medida do processo formativo, evidenciaram capaci-dade de transformar visões e significados; reformular situações particulares; compreender a neces-sidade de cuidar de si para cuidar ao outro; a criação de alianças de solidariedade; as experiências do trabalho interdisciplinar e o interesse por capacitar-se e compartir conhecimentos.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento , Anciano , CuidadoresRESUMEN
Resumen Al analizar la Ruta de reintegración de la Agencia para la Reincorporación y la Normalización (ARN) para las Personas mayores en Colombia que han hecho parte de grupos armados al margen de la ley e inician procesos de reintegración a la vida civil, en el Estado Colombiano, se deja entrever por una lado que, esta población es especialmente vulnerable en tanto tienen más dificultad para adaptarse a la vida civil, advierte de la necesidad de reconocer los vacíos que exigen emplear enfoques diferenciales para abordar de forma adecuada las condiciones y necesidades particulares de este conjunto poblacional, destaca además, la importancia de aumentar o mejorar la oferta pública y privada de servicios que permitan una atención integral y sostenible.
Abstract By analyzing the Route of Reintegration of the Agency for Reintegration and Standardization (ARN) for senior citizens in Colombia, who have been part of illegal armed groups and initiate processes of reintegration into the civilian life, in the Colombian State, it is evident, on the one hand, that this population is especially vulnerable as they have more difficulty adapting to the civilian life. It warns of the need to recognize the gaps that require particular conditions and needs of this population group. It further stresses the importance of increasing and/or improving the public and private offer of services, which allow comprehensive and sustainable care.