[Friendship relationship in the geriatric institution].

This article aims at understanding what the friend and friendship represent for the elderly in the context of the geriatric home. One utilized the qualitative approach while the techniques for data collection were: thematic interview and indirect participant observation. The collection period was from April to June 2003, in a geriatric home located in the city of Salvador, Bahia. 15 elderly subjects were interviewed. The used analysis was of thematic contents. We understood that the definition of friend and friendship for the institutionalized elderly is associated with his shortages in the life of the geriatric home. One comes to the conclusion that the friendship relations established transcend ages, cultures and physical conditions.