Strategies for implementing a life project for institutionalized elderly people

Abstract

This article is the result of a study conducted with 11 technical directors and/or social workers who work in Residential Facilities for the Elderly (ERPI) across various regions of Portugal, ranging from the north to the south of the country. The primary objective of this research was to understand how the life projects of the elderly are planned and outlined at the time of their institutional integration, with the aim of creating a guiding framework for the viable implementation of life projects for institutionalized elderly people.

The research highlights the importance of advocating an elderly-centered intervention, actively involving them in the deciding-making process regarding their own life projects, and fostering a safe environment where they feel a sense of belonging and where their autonomy is valued.

This study makes a significant contribution by presenting a proposal with guidelines for implementing life projects in ERPIs, which is not always feasible today, promoting active, successful, and person-centered aging.

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Author Biographies

Bibiana Pedrosa, Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Salamanca, Salamanca, Espanha

She holds a degree in Social Work from the School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic of Leiria and a Master's degree in Adult Education and Training and Community Intervention from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. During her studies, she was a research fellow at CICS.NOVA, at the School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic of Leiria (ESECS-IPL). She currently works as a social worker in the Morada Certa project promoted by InPulsar – Association for Community Development. She is a PhD candidate in the Doctoral Program “Training in the Knowledge Society” at the University of Salamanca.

Ricardo Pocinho, ESECS.IPLeiria e CICS.NOVA.IPLeiria, Leiria, Portugal

He holds a Law Degree, a PhD in Training Processes from the University of Salamanca, and in Psychogerontology from the University of Valencia, He has a Post-Doctorate in Educational Sciences, Specialty in Continuing Education and Adult Training, from the University of Coimbra. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) by the University of Peru and the Federal University of Tocantins, Brazil. He is an adjunct Professor at the School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic of Leiria, Integrated Researcher at CICS.NOVA.IPleiria. He is also the President and Scientific Coordinator of the Portuguese Association of Social Gerontology. He is the director of RIAGE – Ibero-American Journal of Gerontology.

Cristóvão Margarido, ESECS.IPLeiria e CICS.NOVA.IPLeiria, Leiria, Portugal

He is a Social Worker with a Master’s in Drug Addiction and Psychosocial Pathologies, and holds a PhD in Social Work. He is a Coordinating Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, where he has been teaching since 2003. He is the coordinator of the postgraduate program in the Management of Social Intervention Organisations and a lecturer in the Social Work degree programme, the Master's in Management and Leadership of Social Intervention Organisations, and the Master's in Intercultural Mediation and Social Intervention.

He is a scientific coordinator and researcher at CICS.NOVA.IPLeiria and serves as Vice-President of the Technical-Scientific Council of the School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. 

He is a founding member and coordinator of the Ibero-American Social Work Research Network, in Portugal.

Patricia Torrijos , Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Salamanca, Salamanca, Espanha

She has a Diploma in Social Education and a Degree in Psychopedagogy. She holds an Official Master's Degree in Teacher Training, specialising in Educational Guidance from the University of Salamanca, and a Master's Degree in Sexology, Guidance and Sexual Counselling from the National Institute of Training and Consultancy. She earned a Doctorate in Educational Sciences from the University of Salamanca. Currently, she is a Permanent Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Salamanca, in the Department of Didactics and School Organisation. Her research profile focuses on Emotional Education training and the design and evaluation of programmes.

Published
2025-07-09
How to Cite
Pedrosa, B., Pocinho, R., Margarido, C., & Torrijos , P. (2025). Strategies for implementing a life project for institutionalized elderly people. Revista Lusófona De Educação, 67(67), 161-176. Retrieved from https://revistas.ulusofona.pt/index.php/rleducacao/article/view/10112
Issue
Vol. 67 No. 67 (2025): Revista Lusófona de Educação
Section
Research paper

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The articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International).

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