THE IMPACT OF THE EXTENSION PROJECT “STRENGTHENING THE RIGHTS AND INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES” AND FULL-TIME CARE IN THE CONTEXT OF DISABILITY IN THE DAILY LIFE OF OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

Parenting plays a fundamental role in human development and can be influenced by broader interactions and contexts. This study aimed to analyze the effects of the Extension Project “Strengthening the Rights and Inclusion of People with Disabilities” from the perspective of elderly participants, exploring their experiences in caring for a disabled person. This is a qualitative and descriptive field study involving six caregivers of people with disabilities (five women and one man, aged between 63 and 77), all served by APAE/Franca. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the completion of the project’s activities in 2023. Frequency, thematic, and word cloud analyses were performed using the Iramuteq software. The results indicate that the project contributed positively to increasing participants’ knowledge of legislation, social rights, and opportunities for socialization. Parenting in the context of disability among older adults was marked by numerous challenges, particularly due to the dependence on care stemming from the lack of autonomy of the person cared for.