PERCEPÇÕES DE IDOSOS QUE RESIDEM SOZINHOS ACERCA DA VIOLÊNCIA SOCIAL

The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions and experiences of elderly individuals living alone regarding social violence in the past, present and future, in order to identify situations of vulnerability and risk. The research, which was descriptive and exploratory in nature, with a qualitative approach, involved 30 individuals living in Pau dos Ferros/RN, selected by inclusion and exclusion criteria. The semi-structured interviews were recorded individually. Thematic content analysis revealed four categories: (1) Life experience of elderly individuals about living alone; (2) Understanding of social violence suffered by elderly individuals; (3) Social determinants of violence suffered by elderly individuals and (4) Perceptions of elderly individuals living alone regarding social violence. It was evident that, in the past, people experienced a sense of tranquility and fewer worries. Social violence, increasingly present in our time, manifests itself through physical, verbal and psychological aggression and acts of negligence, which intensify every day against elderly individuals. The vision for the future points to a scenario of growing disbelief in the possibility of reducing social violence. This negative perception is directly linked to the ineffectiveness of public policies and the inadequate performance of public authorities.