Enfermagem e o cuidado ao idoso no domicilio

Abstract

717Rev Bras Enferm, Brasília 2012 set-out; 65(5): 717-8. EDITORIALIn recent decades, Brazil has been facing a process of the aging population and a model of singular, epidemiological transition. In addition, it is requiring technical and scientific expertise at all levels of health care, a project of political organization capable of including all of these phenomena interfaces and demands.Despite this is a significant victory for humanity, the increased life expectancy also causes complex problems for social and health areas because society needs to accept a contingent of people susceptible to chronic conditions. This happens in the situation of limited socio-economic situations, which contribute to increase the risk of social and physical dependence that older people are subject.In many countries, the aging process happened in slow and gradual manners, allowing the organization on the provision of social services, social security and health. Nevertheless, in Brazil, this process has been developing rapidly, especially, since the beginning of this century, requiring greater efforts in planning policies, programs and actions related to the active and healthy aging of people.This fact places the Nursing profession before the following concerning questions: What is the vision of Nursing about the elderly? How has the profession committed to the growing demand of elderly users in the health services? What are the efforts made to train nurses and nursing technicians of the health services in order to serve this clientele? How are the curricula being reorganized to train new professionals based on that reality?The care for the frail elderly constitutes an unparalleled responsibility for Nursing because the precarious, current attention within the existing primary care has led to increased demand for urgent/emergency care and hospitalization. The Nursing is facing this event and performs its functions as the situation requires. However, it is the profession that questions and develops the political consciousness to engage in movements to envisage perspectives on life assistance and health of the elderly in an integrated, constant and even permanent way.The precepts on Health Promotion advocate for strategies increase in order to develop the autonomy, improve living conditions and health, promote an active and healthy aging, integral and integrated health care for the elderly. Also, the encouragement of inter sectorial actions aiming at the assistance integrality care, provision of resources to ensure health care quality for the elderly, the participation stimulation of and social control strengthening of social control, and ongoing training in the gerontological area.One highlights here the importance of qualifications required to perform this job. It is necessary to consider the ethical issues that permeate the relationship between the elderly and his caregiver, issues of concern such as violence against the elderly, abuse and family abandonment. Beyond these concerns, one should remember that, in reality, the elderly...