Empowering a group of seniors in a rural community* Potencializando um grupo de terceira idade de uma comunidade rural Potenciando a un grupo de tercera edad de una comunidad rural

5 Tenured Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, GO, Brasil. ABSTRACT The present study describes the stages of empowerment of a group of seniors in a rural community in view of the convergent analysis. Study conducted with the proposal to change the praxis of 21 seniors and nine health professionals, with a view to their empowerment for health promotion, whose intervention suggested the incorporation of new group functioning. Data were collected during 22 meetings, and group interviews at the end of the intervention. The results show that despite the initial impact of the change, the group was able to welcome the new, enjoying the space to express anguish, share joys, build new knowledge, which led to the incorporation of changes reflected in the development of healthy habits and improves in interpersonal relationships. It is concluded that the convergent research consisted in strategy that changed the group life, boosting the actions of health promotion.