نبذة مختصرة : Culturally, care delivered to elderly individuals in Brazil is usually provided by families. Even though only 1% of the Brazilian population older than 60 years of age is cared for in long stay institutions, the search for this type of facility has increased, mainly due to population aging and new family arrangements. This study analyzes the relation between family functionality and the variables of age, gender, duration of institutionalization, family composition, depressive symptoms and cognitive changes in elderly individuals residing in long stay facilities in a city in the interior of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. This is a quantitative cross- sectional study with a descriptive correlational design. A total of 107 elderly individuals were individually interviewed using the following: Family APGAR, Mini State Mental Exam, Katz Index, Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale. Outcomes were analyzed by logistic regression analysis using the hierarchical analysis using the Stepwise technique. This study complied with all ethical aspects. In relation to socio-demographic characteristics, the institutionalized elderly individuals were mostly older elderly women (61%), (45%)with a low education level, (87%) Catholic and (45%) widowed. Most independently performed basic daily living activities (46%), but were dependent for instrumental activities of daily living, had depressive symptoms (67%) and cognitive impairment (53%). The results show that 57% of the elderly individuals had a high level of family dysfunction, 22% had good family functionality and 21% moderate family dysfunction. No statistically significant association was found between the family APGAR and the variables gender and age. Elderly individuals with families composed of more distant relatives such as siblings, nephews and nieces, with greater time of institutionalization, depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment were also more dysfunctional. The institutionalization of elderly with time over 3 years (OR = 3.861, p = ...
Processing Request
No Comments.