Idosos com limitações da capacidade funcional residentes em instituições de longa permanência para idosos em Alagoas

Abstract

In Brazil, the increase in life expectancy in recent years has been observed, as well as the growing need for institutionalization of the elderly, a factor that has drawn the attention of the general population due to advancing age. This scenario has awakened us to evaluate the functional capacity of elderly people living in a homes for the aged. Our study was cross-sectional carried out in the agreste of Alagoas state in two homes for the aged. The initial sample was composed of 38 elderly residents in the researched institutions. For data collection we used the Mini Mental State Examination, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale and the following variables: age, sex, race, marital status and education. Most of the elderly had Cognitive Dysfunction, which reduced the final sample size to 18 participants. The average age was 75 years old, and most were male, single, illiterate, and of brown/black race. Most of the elderly did not have autonomy, meaning a greater impairment in the ADL. We conclude that training and continued education are essential for the qualification of caregivers, recognizing the challenges in the sense of promoting health in Homes for the Aged and encouraging the elderly residents in the several daily activities.