Resumo: O presente trabalho propõe uma breve revisão bibliográfica sobre alguns aspectos da velhice, tendo em vista que hoje em dia o tema terceira idade-senectude está se convertendo numa realidade social com a qual a cada dia mais vamos conviver. Destacamos alguns aspectos que consideramos relevantes como: evolução histórica da velhice, os mitos, a saúde/enfermidade e em especial a questão IDADE, não somente idade cronológica, do ponto de vista referencial, mas sim as idades dentro de um processo dinâmico; idade social, biológica e psicológica.
Palavras-chave: Mitos. Idade cronológica. Idade social. Idade biológica. Idade psicológica.
Abstract: In this research we propose a bibliographic review of the diferent aspects that make reference to old age. This subject is considered very important because it is a social reality that sometimes is relegated to a lower level. During the research we face a sort historicak evolution of aging with its myths and stereotypes. If we talk about aging its worth making reference to the concepts of health/illness. We will find as a first question the ideas about “health” and “illnes” like opposite
phenomena. However, the problem is not that simple. Later on, we will arrive to our principal objetive in wich we will make reference to old age as a differential process and not as a life stage. It is impossible that the majority of the people would generalize but, we will be always in frot of differential and social process that has permittes to enhance a sort of characteristics that make easy its comprehencion; where the given value to the chronological age is just use as a regular point of reference. We will continue with a study of ages: the social age, the biological age and the psychological age, each on with own advantages and its own limits; they are still complementary being the origin of dynamic process.
Keywords: Myths. Chronological age. Social age. Biological age. Psychological age.
Idade Cronológica: mera questão referencial no processo de envelhecimento