Dissertation Title: "AGEING AND OLDING PROCESS: THE PROFESSIONAL JOB OF SOCIAL ASSISTANTS IN LONG-TERM INSTITUTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY

Student: DENISE DOS PASSOS GAMA

Abstract: This paper sought to address the topic of social service and the aging process, considering it to be of social and scientific relevance. Thus, the general objective was to analyze the meanings about the aging process and old age that guide the professional practice of social workers in the long-stay institutions for the elderly in the city of Belém (PA). As for the methodology adopted, it was based on an analysis of reality from the critical social theory, which enabled the construction of an exploratory and explanatory research with a quanti-qualitative approach. A Systematic Literature Review, bibliographic and documentary research, field research, and participant observation were adopted. The data were classified, categorized, analyzed by content and illustrated through narratives of the social workers, statistics, charts, graphs, figures and tables. The main results indicate that the meanings about aging correspond to the understanding of it as a process; that it may include losses; that it may mean wisdom; that it is constituted as a biopsychosocial process. And old age as a result of what is socially constructed; similar to limitation and fragility; dependent on the way people age. It is concluded that the professional practice is not exhausted after the institutional shelter, due to its continuous character through social monitoring and meeting the demands and needs. Whose main purpose is to ensure rights to the elderly, according to what is recommended by the Statute of the Elderly.

KEY WORDS: Aging. Old Age. Professional practice. Social Workers. ILPI.

Examining Board:

Prof. Dr. ADRIANA DE AZEVEDO MATHIS (Advisor) - UFPA

Prof. Dr. CILENE SEBASTIANA DA CONCEICAO BRAGA (Internal Av.) - UFPA

Prof. Dr.ª SOLANGE MARIA TEIXEIRA (External Av.) - UFPA 

Place: Multimeios Room FAAD/ICSA

Date: 28/04/2023

Start: 09:00