Informação no protagonismo social, na garantia dos direitos e satisfação de necessidades dos idosos: centros de convivência do Rio de Janeiro e São Luís

Abstract

This study deals with the role of information in the social protagonism, in the defense of rights and in the satisfaction of information needs of elders, in the context of Centros de Convivência de Idosos (Centers for the coexistence of the elderly), institutions created by specific Brazilian legislation. The theoretical problematic discussed led to following research questions: the actions promoted by the Centros de Convivência contribute to the access to information about rights of their users, as well as the fulfilment of their information needs and to the promotion of their social protagonism? How much are these elders conscious of their rights, are active in seeking the satisfaction of their needs, and in the solution of their problems? Seeking to answer these questions a literature review was made considering the following themes: old age in contemporary society, especially old age stimatization, active old age, and old age feminization. The literature that approaches the relevance of information in old age protagonism is also considered, as well as arguments about the importance of information needs, information literacy and information rights to this social segment. The first step of the empirical study was the description of the Centros de Convivência in the country, its origin in the legislation and its role in promoting well being of the elderly. Next, four Centros de Convivência in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Luís were selected as the study field. In the study of these centers the methods of observation and semi-structured interviews were applied to describe visits to the centers and to obtain information and opinions of coordinators and users. Data results indicate that these centers in fact contribute to the social protagonism of the elderly, as it is the case of providing information about their rights, and information that subsidise them in satisfying their necessities. However, actions to stimulate users in defining the activities of the centers and to promote the consciousness of the users as a social group apt to fight for their rights were not identified. The interviews applied helped to point out several types of information the users need and the activities they value the most. Interview data also show that leisure and disease prevention is what characterizes the use of these centers. The challenge of the Centros de Convivência is to articulate the knowledge acquired by their users with the solution of their information needs, aiming at the promotion of and active and protagonist old age.