Abstract
The functional dependency of older adults and its repercussions on mental health represent significant challenges for public policy agendas targeting this group in Brazil. This study analyzed the mental health experiences of dependent older adults across Brazil's five regions. It is a qualitative investigation grounded in the theoretical-methodological framework of dialectical hermeneutics, and it includes semi-structured interviews with 47 older adults conducted in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul), Araranguá (Santa Catarina), Manaus (Amazonas), Brasília (Federal District), Fortaleza (Ceará), and Teresina (Piauí) from August to December 2019. The data were analyzed using Content Analysis, which yielded the themes "When the joy of living is lost" and "Resources for coping with life and the quest for meaning". Participants reported depressive and anxious symptoms, thoughts of death, feelings of being a burden, and loneliness. Moreover, experiences of violence exacerbated depressive symptoms. Resilience, spiritual well-being, socialization, quality interpersonal relationships, and religion were found in the reports of older adults who experience psychological well-being. Mental health of dependent older adults is linked to physical and emotional frailty; however, they are able to reinforce their spiritual and religious resources. State actions are necessary to promote qualified and comprehensive care, create spaces for social activities and support, as well as involve formal caregivers and home support programs.