The present study aims to analyze the impact of linguistic-discursive activities in health promotion for a group of elderly residents in a long-term care institution for the elderly (ILPI, for its acronym in Portuguese) in Paraná. This is a qualitative case study that was carried out with 10 subjects of 60 years of age, living in an ILPI. Subjects with linguistic or neurological limitations were excluded from the study. The data was analyzed according to the Bakhtinian view of language. It was collected through semi-structured interviews, performed orally and individually with seniors after their participation in 16 focus group meetings. The results showed the importance of group interaction and dialogical activities among the elderly participants, since it promoted experiences of learning, self-knowledge, acceptance and belonging. Such activities also resulted in the active participation of the subjects in the construction of social bonds, in the formation of feelings and resignificance about themselves and the collective. It was concluded that the development of speech therapy actions capable of formulating and establishing strategies to promote the health of the elderly who are institutionalized in ILPS is urgent. Thus, speech therapy ought to invest in developing research projects around initiatives that value and promote dialogical practices that are able to empower and ensure autonomy for the elderly population.
Keywords
Aging; Language; Homes for the aged; Speech, language and hearing sciences; Health promotion