title: Longevity according to life histories of the oldest-old.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to interpret life histories of the oldest-old in a community, grounded on the perspective of the Active Aging and Life Course.
  
  
  METHODS
  this is a qualitative research. Participants included twenty seniors 80 years and older, users of a Basic Health Unit. Life histories were collected and analyzed according to the proposition of the Autobiographical Narrative Interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  during the analytic process, elements found in the elders' present and past arose, contributing to the development of a theoretical model: "Building longevity along the life course."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  longevity is rooted in the past, strongly influenced by the family culture and life course; assumptions of the Active Aging are more meaningful in the informants' present trajectory. The content of the narratives pointed to new possibilities of Gerontology Nursing intervention in Primary Care, aiming at health promotion and intervention, specially grounded on the respect to the oldest-elders' culture.
authors.affiliation: Grupo Multiprofissional de Pesquisa Sobre Idosos, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Mariluci Hautsch
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Willig
authors.affiliation: Grupo Multiprofissional de Pesquisa Sobre Idosos, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Maria Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lenardt
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Célia Pereira
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Caldas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male