Socialization groups for the elderly help foster active aging and preservation of the individual's capacities and potential in this phase of life. The "Conviver" project was thus created, targeting mainly the elderly population in the community of Catete (a neighborhood of Santo Antônio do Leite, a township in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais State), where health workers reported cases of sadness, anxiety, and depression among the elders. The group sought to intervene positively in the participants' mental well-being, through workshops that valued socialization and fostered active aging. An evaluation was performed at the end of the project in which participants described the operative groups' impact on their lives. The project created a strong bond among members of the "Conviver" project , besides fostering exchange of knowledge and the community's adoption of healthier habits and closer participation by students in a health promotion setting. The results show that the operative groups promote the elders' well-being by fostering their socialization.
senior citizens; health of the elderly; health promotion; depression; socialization