Representation of death: concepts from the life experiences of elderly users of PSF

Abstract

Questions about death have sparked great interest in different areas of society such as media, religion, health, economy, demography and family. Currently, death is a model for thinking about human existence and the impacts that this phenomenon causes in people's lives, as it is the only certainty in life. When it comes to old age, death is highlighted, as there is a close relationship between seniors and death in society. However, at this moment, such arguments do not hold up as before, since the relation now existing has been relative and quite distinct. In order to demonstrate these concepts, this paper aims to address the relationship between death and aging using the experiences of three elderly women whose the recognition of death has gaineddistinct contours. The research was conducted in 2011 at a basic family health center in the municipality of Bayeux (PB). The methodology adopted was the content analysis from the reports of experiences of the elderly women and from the interviews with them. Research has shown that, despite the three women share the condition of old age,the representation and the meanings about death undergo different moments, depending on the life history and the experiences of subjects. The various moments emphasized by the elderly women show that death can be beneficial, seen as a good event, that death also promotes a new meaning to life and, finally, that the current management of active aging has an element for the denial and total removal of death.