The purpose of this study is to characterize caretakers of elderly people with cognitive disorders, users of Family Health Units (FHU), that live in different contexts of social vulnerability. Household interviews were conducted (N = 72) with the use of an instrument previously designed, containing socioeconomic and demographic characterization data. All ethical cares have been observed. The results show that caretakers of elderly people that live in contexts of high social vulnerability are primarily adult, married women, with incomplete elementary school education, who work at home. These caretakers live with the elderly person they are in charge of develop a dose relationship with them and do not receive help from professionals. Similar data were found in contexts of low social vulnerability, except that in those cases the support of a formal caretaker is available. The study of the profile of caretakers of elderly people with cognitive alterations living in different contexts of social vulnerability can provide FHU with subsidies so that they can formulate more specific care strategies to caretakers.

O objetivo foi avaliar a influência do gênero e da idade nas percepções de relações familiares entre idosos com alterações cognitivas que moravam em contextos de pobreza. Trata-se de estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa. A funcionalidade familiar foi avaliada utilizando o instrumento Apgar de Família, durante entrevista domiciliar com 45 idosos, com alterações cognitivas, que moravam em contextos de pobreza. Os resultados mostram que 62% das mulheres e 95% dos homens avaliaram a funcionalidade de sua família como "boa", 21% das mulheres e 5% dos homens apontaram moderada disfunção e apenas as mulheres (17%) apontaram elevada disfunção familiar. Estes resultados foram significativamente diferentes, segundo o teste de Mann-Whitney (Z=-2,559; p=0,01). Não houve correlação significativa, pelo coeficiente de Spearman, entre idade e funcionamento familiar (p>0,05). Assim, no desenvolvimento de serviços públicos de cuidado ao idoso com alterações cognitivas, é importante considerar diferenças ligadas ao gênero, na percepção de relações familiares.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms among institutionalized elderly. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of quantitative character. A total of 107 institutionalized elderly were assessed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (to track depressive symptoms) and the Family APGAR (to assess family functioning). The correlation coefficient of Pearson's, the chi-square test and the crude and adjusted logistic regression were used in the data analysis with a significance level of 5 %. The institutionalized elderly with depressive symptoms were predominantly women and in the age group of 80 years and older. Regarding family functioning, most elderly had high family dysfunctioning (57 %). Family dysfunctioning was higher among the elderly with depressive symptoms. There was a significant correlation between family functioning and depressive symptoms. The conclusion is that institutionalized elderly with dysfunctional families are more likely to have depressive symptoms.

Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar os cuidadores de idosos com alterações cognitivas morando em diferentes contextos de vulnerabilidade social, e avaliar a funcionalidade familiar desses idosos segundo a percepção dos cuidadores. A funcionalidade familiar foi avaliada utilizando o instrumento APGAR de família, durante entrevistas domiciliares com 72 cuidadores de idosos. Todos os cuidados éticos foram observados. Foi utilizada a correlação de Spearman e o teste de Mann-Whitney, com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). Os resultados mostram que 82% dos cuidadores relatam boa funcionalidade familiar; 14%, moderada disfunção familiar; e 4%, elevada disfunção familiar. Houve correlação estatisticamente significante entre o APGAR de Família e o número de pessoas que residem na casa (p=0,048). Investigações futuras poderiam verificar a relação entre funcionalidade familiar e sobrecarga do cuidador no contexto de idosos com demência.

This study aimed to analyze the joint influence of background variables (age, gender, and income), weakness and sleep disorders on cognition in elderly community residents. This is an excerpt from the multicenter project Frailty in Elderly Brazilians (FIBER). We evaluated 878 patients, using socio demographic questionnaire, questions about sleep disorders (Nottingham Health Profile); issues nap (Minnesota Leisure Activity Questionnaire) and MMSE (cognitive screening). The Mann Whitney and Kruskal Wallis test and regression analysis were used univariate and multivariate data analysis, with a significance level of 5% (p <0.05). The results showed that elderly patients with lower MMSE scores were those with lower family income, female and older. Health professionals can develop preventive actions in relation to cognition, thus maintaining the autonomy and independence in daily activities of the elderly.

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, which aimed to identify the perception of nursing home elderly residents related to the chronological organization of their daily routines and to their sleep quality. The study was conducted with 37 elderly (14 women and 23 men, mean age of 75 years) who lived in a long term care facility located in the municipality of Campinas-SP, Brazil. The results showed that 81% of the elderlies had complaints compatible with poor sleep, but 70% of them reported that they had good sleep quality when directly questioned about it. All elderlies adequately realized the chronological organization of their routines, but this perception did not appear to contribute to the good sleep quality, as most of them had complaints compatible with poor sleep. It becomes evident that nurses should perform detailed assessment of sleep quality in order to minimize or prevent these problems and their possible consequences.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: Quality-of-life results have increasingly been evaluated among patients undergoing joint replacements. The objective of this study was to compare two assessment instruments for health-related quality of life (one generic and the other specific), among elderly patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional descriptive study in a reference hospital in the region of Campinas. METHODS:The subjects were 88 elderly outpatients aged 60 years or over who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty. Two instruments for assessing health-related quality of life were applied: the generic Medical Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the specific Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Cronbach's alpha and the ceiling and floor effects of the instruments were evaluated. RESULTS:The scores from both instruments showed that issues of a physical nature affected these elderly people's quality of life most. The pain and stiffness dimensions of WOMAC showed ceiling effects and only the functional capacity and pain dimensions of the SF-36 did not show the ceiling effect. The SF-36 presented floor effects in the dimensions of physical and emotional aspects. Cronbach's alpha was considered satisfactory in both instruments (α > 0.70). CONCLUSIONS:The floor and ceiling effects that were observed suggest that these instruments may present some limitations in detecting changes to the majority of the SF-36 dimensions, except for functional capacity and pain, and to the pain and stiffness dimensions of WOMAC, when applied to elderly people with total hip arthroplasty. RESUMO

Objectives: To evaluate the functionality of older people with cognitive impairments, living in different contexts of social vulnerability and correlate with the variables of age and gender. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study that included the evaluation performed in 88 patients, using the Katz Index and the Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire . The Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation, with significance level of 5% (p <"0.05) were used. Results: There was no influence of gender on the results of evaluating the functionality of the elderly. It was found that the older the elderly were, the more dependent they were, both for instrumental and basic activities. It was found that most elderly living in poor environments were dependent for activities outside the home. Conclusion: These data reinforce the importance of evaluating the functional capacity of the elderly, especially those with cognitive impairment, advanced age and living in contexts of poverty. Keywords: Geriatric nursing; Health of the elderly; Family Health Program RESUMOObjetivos: Avaliar a funcionalidade de idosos com alterações cognitivas, morando em diferentes contextos de vulnerabilidade social e correlacionar com as variáveis sexo e idade. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, transversal que abrangeu a avaliação realizada em 88 idosos, utilizando o Índice de Katz e Questionário de Atividades Funcionais de Pfeffer. Os testes de Mann-Whitney e a correlação de Spearman, com nível de significância de 5% (p<"0,05) foram utilizados. Resultados: Não houve influência do sexo nos resultados da avaliação da funcionalidade dos idosos. Verificou-se que quanto mais velho for o idoso, mais dependente poderá ser, tanto para atividades básicas como para instrumentais. Verificou-se que a maioria dos idosos que vive em ambientes pobres é dependente para as atividades realizadas fora do domicílio. Conclusão: Estes dados reforçam a importância da avaliação da capacidade funcional dos idosos, sobretudo àqueles com alterações cognitivas, idade avançada e residentes em contextos de pobreza. Descritores: Enfermagem geriátrica; Saúde do idoso; Programa Saúde da Família RESUMEN Objetivos: Evaluar la funcionalidad de ancianos con alteraciones cognitivas, que viven en diferentes contextos de vulnerabilidad social y correlacionar con las variables sexo y edad. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, transversal que abarcó la evaluación realizada a 88 ancianos, utilizando el Índice de Katz y el Cuestionario de Actividades Funcionales de Pfeffer. Fueron utilizados los tests de Mann-Whitney y la correlación de Spearman, con nivel de significancia del 5% (p<"0,05). Resultados: No hubo influencia del sexo en los resultados de la evaluación de la funcionalidad de los ancianos. Se verificó que cuanto más viejo es el anciano, más dependiente podrá ser, tanto para las actividades básicas como para las instrumentales. Se verificó que la mayoría de los ancianos que vive en ambientes pobres es dependiente para las actividades realizadas fuera de su domicilio. Conc...