“Sometimes, It’s Just a Word”: Health Promotion as Resistance in Aging Through the Brazilian Unified Public Health System (Sus)

Objective: to analyze the perceptions of older adults regarding active aging and health promotion actions developed in Primary Health Care based on their experiences in the territory. Method: this is a qualitative study conducted in a Basic Health Unit on the coast of Santa Catarina with seven older adults participating in a walking group. Data collection included participant observation, individual interviews, and group negotiation. The statements were analyzed using the constant comparative method and systematized in a matrix of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Results: the results show the existence of powerful care practices supported by affective bonds, active participation, and informal support networks. However, they also point to structural limitations, such as the absence of mental health professionals, the scarcity of adequate spaces, and a lack of systematized collective actions. Opportunities are associated with integration with other services and the daily inventiveness of older adults. Threats stem from illness, overload, and isolation. Conclusion: when health promotion in Primary Health Care is built on listening to and empowering individuals, it takes on characteristics of resistance against the precariousness of public services and the invisibility of old age in health policies.