Atenção integral à saúde do idoso na atenção primária

Abstract

This dissertation has as its objective to identify, in the Brazilian nursing literature, the primary health care provided to the elderly, in order to subsidize the nursing available to this group. A review of related literature was conducted on the LILACs and SciELO databases with the following key-words: nursing care, primary care and health of the elderly. Nine articles and dissertations or thesis, a book and five manuals from the Health Ministry and from the state of Minas Gerais were reviewed. The review of this material allowed the establishment of four different categories for analysis: Integrated care of the health of the elderly; the health of the elderly in the basic care; the health of the elderly in the Family Health Program and competences, skills and duties of the nurse of the Family Care Program to the elderly people. It was observed that the main social actors of a full-time care of the elderly population, in the primary care, are the elderly themselves, the families and/or caregivers, the community and the health professionals. Among such professionals, nurses stand out. We believe that with an amplified knowledge of the care provided to the elderly, we can direct the nursing procedures and orientate their actions in the assistance to said group, ultimately contributing to a general improvement in the health of the elderly population. This essay concluded that, bearing in mind an objectified improvement in the basic health care provided to the elderly, there is a continuous need of educating more professionals in the area, especially nurses, through sequential courses and specialization courses in Family Health, giving the present perspectives of aging of the population.