[Aging, facing strategies of the aged and the consequences for family]

This qualitative study seeks the understanding of the perception of the elderly, users of Basic Health Unit of São Paulo, on aging, coping strategies and impact on family. Interviews with three elderly people, from 71 to 90 years-old, were held from September 2007 to July'2008. Participants responded to questions under the Geriatric Depression Scale, Ecomapa, Genogram and Calgary model. From the Bardin analysis, we could determine three categories - the moment of realizing the life cycle; suffering the consequences of this time; facing the aging and old age. We believe in the continuity of studies that search for strategies with older people and their families in an attempt to improve life quality and family dynamics by the inclusion of entertainment, according to the possibilities offered to their communities.