Situación de abandono de los adultos mayores autovalentes e institucionalizados en un centro residencial gerontológico de la ciudad de Guayaquil durante la pandemia del covid-19 en el año 2020.

Abstract

The present research wants to understand how family neglect affects the institutionalized self-supporting older adults in a gerontological center in Guayaquil city. The work was carried out based on the qualitative research method, which consisted in collecting verbal information from the elderly residents and the collaborating of the technical team who works at gerontological residential center. In the analysis, we worked with theoretical references framed in a hermeneutical approach and also based on the Republic of Ecuador Constitution. For older adults, being institutionalized represents in many cases get away from the family and not live with them every day causes them to lose that bond of love that they must have and causes them loneliness, anguish, sadness, depression and abandonment feelings that make them isolate themselves from their environment. Despite the fact that they live with people, this research helped to understand those deficiencies that affect them and to know why families choose institutionalization. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation of abandonment in the institution was more evident, although in the first instance there was restriction due to contagion, step by step it became more flexible due to the need that was seen for them to maintain contact with their families. The technical team that works at gerontological residential center has handled the feelings of loneliness and abandonment in the best way, always looking for the best activities that help them to have a good life. On the part of the Social Work area, their work and participation are essential to strengthen that family-elderly bond. With this investigation, it was possible to feel how institutionalized older adults go through and which deficiencies they have. It was also possible to know how they feel about family abandonment and what measures the institution takes in this situation.