Produção de cuidados à pessoa idosa

Abstract

The rise in life expectancy in modern societies is a result of economic development and public health achievements. This is probably the most significant revolution produced by the last century. However, the majority of older people in developing countries still have no access to health care and social security systems meeting their needs.Even if we were to examine the developed countries, placed side by side in a great "global scenario", we still would detect gaps and imbalances in the distribution of resources. The greatest challenge lies in equilibrating necessary short-term and long-term measures. This is because this matter calls into question the need for developing "planetary solidarity" in three big dimensions: intergenerational solidarity, risk solidarity and distributive solidarity.The ageing of a population depends on its social integration and gender patterns, on its economical stability and/or on the presence of privation and poverty. Therefore, in order to be resolutive, health has to be seen comprehensively in all these dimensions, never isolated from this context.As societies are ageing, the health problems of the elderly put pressure on the public health and social security systems. However, disease is neither an unavoidable consequence of old age nor is it limited to that fraction of a population. In addition, the achievements in health sciences and technology have turned a better quality of life for the elderly possible. This is why preventive strategies focusing intergenerational approaches became more important for coping with today's and tomorrow's challenges.The aim of this thematic number is to contribute to the thoughts about the production of a supportive environment for the elderly especially as refers to the challenge of dealing with the implications of population ageing for the public health system, and mainly with regard to long-term care for the frail and dependent elderly.We want to share with the readers our concern with this part of the population challenging us to reaffirm our commitment with the health of all, in all stages of the lifespan.

Prevalence of frailty syndrome in old people in a hospital institution

“…As societies age, health problems among the elderly challenge health and social security systems. Currently we are witnessing a "geriatrization" of the Brazilian hospital setting (2)(3) . Such a scenario demands the identification of the elderly people who are at the greatest risk of becoming sick, in order to improve the adoption of measures for organizing interventions and preventive care, ensuring that decision-making in relation to choice of priorities is done equitably and efficiently (3) .…”

Modelos de atenção à saúde do idoso: repensando o sentido da prevenção

“…O pressuposto básico é que o risco para a fragilidade é o que vai determinar o grau de atenção de que o idoso necessita CALDAS, 2008;VERAS, 2007). Assim, a melhor estratégia para um adequado cuidado do idoso é utilizar a lógica de permanente acompanhamento da sua saúde -ou seja: tê-lo sempre sob observação, variando apenas os níveis, a intensidade e o cenário da intervenção (VERAS et al, 2008b;Veras, 2009).…”

“…Desta forma, o foco de qualquer política contemporânea deve ser a promoção do envelhecimento saudável, com manutenção e melhoria -na medida do possível -da capacidade funcional dos idosos, e a prevenção e/ou estabilização de doenças e recuperação da saúde dos que adoecem, bem como a reabilitação daqueles que venham a ter sua capacidade funcional restringida Caldas, 2008).…”

Gerenciamento de doença crônica: equívoco para o grupo etário dos idosos

“…The focus of any contemporary health policy should be on promoting healthy ageing, maintaining or even progressively improving the functional capacity of the elderly, preventing illness, recovering health of those who fall sick (and/or stabilising the disease) and the rehabilitation of those with restricted functional capacity. 17 Those elderly who become fragile tend to increase with the extension of lifespan. Policy could be proposed which focus on maintaining functional capacity, on preventative programmes, on investment into methodologies for early detection, on monitoring health problems, on the personalised medical system (the good old family doctor), among other measures.…”