Home care needs for elderly people in the context of the Family Health Strategy

Abstract

This study had the objective of identifying the needs of care reported by a group of elderly people in a region covered by the Family Health Strateg y (ESF). The methodolog y used was based on a descriptive cross-sectional study, with a sample of 176 persons over 60 years of age. Most of the individuals were females, between 60 and 69 years old, with an average of 69.6 ± 7.4 years. The elderly reported co-morbidities, most of which were related to diseases of the circulatory and endocrine systems, as well as nutritional and metabolic disturbances, musculos;eletal and conjunctive tissue diseases. Regarding the Basic Activities of Daily Life, 93.2% of the elderly reported to be independent, 81.3% were able to conduct instrumental daily life activities, and 24.4% reported needing a caregiver at home. The need for the family health team to adopt care technologies for the elderly in the scope of their homes is discussed