Unesc celebrates Elderly Day with a special afternoon focused on health and autonomy

The Multidisciplinary Health Care Program for the Elderly (Pamsi) at Unesc held a special afternoon on Thursday (October 1st) to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day and International Day of Older Persons. The event brought together seniors involved in the project, professors, and university administrators for a moment of lectures, knowledge exchange, tributes, and a coffee break.

The opening featured the presence of the Vice-Rector for Research, Graduate Studies, Innovation, and Extension (Propiex), Professor Vanessa Moraes de Andrade, and the Director of Extension, Culture, and Community Actions, Professor Sheila Martignago Saleh.

"It doesn't matter to live longer in numbers if that life doesn't have quality. The work of Pamsi involves what science shows to be essential: a diet based on real food, physical activity, and social interaction," emphasized the Vice-Rector.

The program coordinator, Lara Canever, highlighted the significance of the moment for the participants and the project's nearly 20-year history.

"More than just celebrating a date, this is a moment to recognize and value lives, stories, and experiences. Pamsi exists to encourage active and healthy aging, promoting care, knowledge, movement, autonomy, and quality of life. And this only happens because you are here," she celebrated.

Aging with autonomy

The highlight of the afternoon was the lecture "Full Life After 60," delivered by the professor from the Institution's Medicine program, Cláudia Cipriano Vidal Heluany. With a relaxed and participatory style, Cláudia prompted reflections on what it means to age well.

"In old age, we finally have the freedom to choose what to eat or where to go. The problem is that we spend our lives taking care of the family, and no one taught us to prioritize ourselves. This is not selfishness; it's the right thing to do," stated the speaker.

Among the participants, retiree Celina Cabral, 73, shared that she has been in the project for almost a year and is already feeling the practical results. The water aerobics activities have made a difference in her daily mobility.

"I used to go down and couldn't climb the stairs; I had to be pulled. Now I go up and down. It's great," she said proudly.

Unesc 60+

During the event, the Unesc 60+ program for 2027 was also announced. The initiative will expand the range of activities for seniors with mini-courses, lectures, language classes, dance, and crafts. According to the Director of Extension, Culture, and Community Actions, registrations will open at the beginning of next year, and interested individuals will have access to an exclusive page on the Institution's website to facilitate access.