Capacidade para o trabalho da pessoa idosa : caracterizando uma outra identidade social

Abstract

The worldwide phenomenon of the aging is a result of demographic changes occurring in previous decades, associated with changes in the epidemiological profile and socioeconomic characteristics. So, this phenomenon has conditioned the aging of the working population, fact that has had repercussions in the economically active population. The decline in the elderly functionality is dependent on factors such as genetics, lifestyle and the presence of chronic diseases, which can cause impact on the ability to work and worker productivity. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the work ability of elderly residents in southern cities of Minas Gerais and compare this ability with demographic characteristics, socioeconomic and health condition. This is a quantitative study, descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical and documentary with secondary database employment based on two theoretical frameworks, which are: Health Promotion and Social Identity Theory. The sample consisted of 510 elderly people living in cities of Pouso Alegre, Santa Rita do Sapucaí e Itajubá in 2010. To evaluate the work ability of the elderly participants in this study we used the Ability Index for Work - IC this instrument contemplates the physical and mental demands of work health and workers resources, including a score 07-49 points. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t test for variables with two categories and Analysis of Variance - ANOVA for variables with three or more categories. When the homogeneity of data has not been verified, it was then realized adjustment through the Brown-Forsythe test. In the presence of significant difference between the variables were applied tests post hoc as Dunnet test and Bonferroni, the latter also when there was no adjustment. Most of the study participants are males (66.9%), with a mean age of 68.7 years (SD: 7.73), marrieds (60%), with incomplete primary education (43.3%) Catholics (83.3%) and live in families of type nuclear (50%) and extensive (46.7%). With regard to the ability to work, 43.5% have a good capacity to work, a condition diagnosed by physician, do not register absent or unable to work, in addition to having positive prognosis of continuity at work. The comparisons showed significant interactions for gender, religion, education level, marital status, work status and health status; demonstrating that elderly females, evangelical, with complete elementary schooling, single or divorced, with self-employment and good self-rated health showed better ability to work. Historically, the elderly took the social identity of disease, disability and loss. This perspective, this study provides the visualization of the elderly different from this conception, in which feature availability to adopt another (not new) social identity - the identity of elderly able - thereby weakening the classical conception of aging rooted in society.