Aging in a rural environment in decomposition

Abstract

This study aims to understand the dynamics of primary solidarity networks within the context of ongoing restructuring processes in contemporary Portuguese society. Data were collected through interviews with a population of 60 individuals, including 30 older adults and 30 members of their primary networks who attend a Social Centre, a social response of the “Movimento Sénior” project created by the Lousada Social Network. Data analysis revealed that family support networks continue to play a significant role as the primary source of support for older people, while also highlighting the increasingly limited availability of primary social networks in the face of worsening dependency among older adults and changes in traditional family interaction dynamics. This work was developed in 2012 as part of the requirements for obtaining a Master’s degree in Social Gerontology from the Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto