How it all began...

Abstract

This study portrays the impressions of two adult men who have experienced the insane process of one of their family members and make us confront what a healthy old age means and the reality of an old age accompanied by dependency. The aim here is to discuss, on the one hand, what healthy aging means, or independent and active, and, on the other hand, raise the question about the problematic that is experienced from the moment one of the members of a family is affected by some type of dependence and / or chronic illness, dementia, Alzheimer's  illnesses that require prolonged treatment, high financial cost and specific and continued care. Our reality shows that most families seek institutionalization when one of their members presents with dementia, without knowing for sure the changes that occur to their elderly, let alone how much care to take in this situation. Just as preserving identity in the aging process is a fundamental part of human existence, aging, in turn, guides changes in the family that require new knowledge to be acquired and applied to the new situations that come to be experienced.