title: [Elderly women: revealing their experiences and care needs].
abstract: This qualitative study used a social phenomenology approach to elucidate the experiences, care needs and expectations of the elderly women. Nine elderly women were interviewed between February and May 2011 using a semi-structured questionnaire. The elderly women referred to their physical, mental, and social limitations. They valued ​​the preservation of their autonomy in daily activities and in self-care and considered their families to be a fundamental support. They had expectations of remaining healthy, pursuing leisure activities, and having improved access to healthcare information and treatment. The absence of prospects at this stage of life was related to the loss of significant people and the loss of health. The results of this study reveal important aspects of the experiences of elderly women and encourage further research and improvement in teaching, clinical practice and management policies in relation to the needs of these women.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil e Psiquiátrica da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidadede São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. merighi@usp.br
authors.forename: Miriam Aparecida Barbosa
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Merighi
authors.forename: Deíse Moura
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria Cristina Pinto
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Jesus
authors.forename: Rafaella Queiroga
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: Andressa Akina
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Thamada
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged