Resumen

PEGORARO, Camila  y  SMEHA, Luciane Najar. The experience of motherhood in old age: implications of the child care with intellectual disabilities. Barbaroi [online]. 2013, n.39, pp.235-254. ISSN 0104-6578.

This study aimed at understanding the implications of taking of an adult child with mental disabilities in the context where the mother is already experiencing aging. The participants were five mothers aged between 69 and 85 years old, with at least one child with intellectual disabilities, who answered a semistructured interview. A content analysis of the reports, accordingBardin, revealed that this is a challenging experience. These mothers abandon their leisure, social life and personal care due to child care. Thus, they are isolated and with feelings of abandonment and helplessness, as well as fear and doubts about the future. We conclude that these mothers need help to enlarge the network of support, which may minimize the difficulties of elderly age itself. Finally, we emphasize the importance of government programs to meet the needs coming from the increased life expectancy of the population, as well as the existence of living spaces where people with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to attend in a group without the permanent presence of the mother.

Palabras clave : Motherhood; Aging; Intellectual disability.

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