Stress and senior age: The university playing its role before community

Abstract

The Academic Extension is one of the University's social functions, carried out by a set of actions oriented to the community, which must be linked to teaching and research. In a general way, its purpose is the physical and social wellness promotion and development, the promotion and guarantee of democratic values of rights equality and participation, the respect to people and environment interventions' sustainability. This work purpose was to present to the community members over 50 years old the concepts related to the acute and chronic, positive and negative stress, as well as practical methods to overcome the negative stress. The daily routine, the lack of leisure, the daily difficulties, are factors contributing to a stress situation, arising from stressing situations in life. When it comes to old people, the effects caused by stress come in greater proportions. Therefore, this topic understanding becomes essential for this population share. Through the universIDADE [Senior Age University] program, the presentation of a 6-hour course was possible, approaching topics related to the stress in a very dynamic way. Until now, 265 people from 50 to 93 years old took part in this workshop, both male and female, with different education levels. This action success was not only measured by charts or graphs, but could also be observed by loving hugs among participants and by the seniors' affectionate gratitude at the end of the event.