RESSIGNIFICANDO AS PERDAS E LUTOS NO ENVELHECIMENTO: Uma Perspectiva Gestáltica

Abstract

This work constitutes a bibliographic research that aims to examine the Gestalt Therapy approach to the aging process, as well as the understanding of grief as an essential component of the existential journey. The trajectory of human development is delineated through experiences perceived as phases of existence, which accompany the maturation process triggered by natural changes, gradually leading to old age. This study offers a reflection on the challenges faced in the face of losses, not only in situations of death but also in relation to the physiological limitations that manifest over time. These are addressed with the intention of both encouraging the elderly to regain their quality of life and contributing to a broader understanding of aging, providing theoretical and practical support for healthcare professionals who work directly with the elderly. The analyses lead to the search for a new sense of existence through the revitalization of historical and cultural values that can confer meaning and promote mental health, thus preventing greater wear and tear in the face of the reality of human finitude and mitigating the suffering associated with grief in old age.