Perspective of the elderly on the care provided by the Family Health Strategy

Objective: to identify how elderly people perceive the care provided by the Family Health Unit (FHU) from Igapo neighborhood, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Methodology: this is a study with qualitative approach, using Oral History as a methodological means. The information collection was held within the period from August to October 2010, through recorded interviews, carried out with twenty elderly people registered in the Program HiperDia in the FHU of Igapo neighborhood, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, after the approval by the Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, under the Opinion 085/2010. Results: through the analyses of interviews, it was found that among the elderly people assisted at the FHU under study, most are women, their ages range from 60 to 69 years, and their education level is low. The elderly people come to the FHU through registering in the Programa HiperDia. Conclusions: it was also realized that the follow-up of the elderly population alone carried out by the Programa HiperDia is not enough to guarantee the guidance and basic care procedures which elderly people need, having in mind the priorities of this age group. Descriptors: aging; old age assistance; primary health care.RESUMOObjetivo: identificar como os idosos percebem a atenção à saúde recebida na Unidade de Saúde da Família (USF) do bairro Igapó, em Natal-RN. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo com abordagem qualitativa, utilizando-se a História Oral como recurso metodológico. A coleta das informações foi realizada no período entre agosto e outubro de 2010, por meio de entrevistas gravadas, realizadas com vinte idosos cadastrados no Programa HiperDia na USF do bairro Igapó, em Natal-RN, após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, sob o Parecer n. 085/2010. Resultados: a partir das análises das entrevistas, constatou-se que dentre os idosos que são assistidos na USF estudada, a maioria é do sexo feminino, com faixa etária ...