Aging and Individual Vulnerability: A Panorama of Older Adults Attended by the Family Health Strategy

Abstract

Objective: identifying conditions of individual vulnerability in older adults and investigating the relationship with health indicators through a household survey. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 368 older adults attended by the Family Health Strategy. Data collection was performed through a structured interview, supported by instruments that include sociodemographic characterization, health indicators and the Vulnerable Elders Survey. A descriptive data analysis and Person's chi-square test were also performed. Results: a prevalence of 52.2% individual vulnerability was found among older adults, in addition to an association with health problems, negative self-perception of health, difficulty with mobility and in performing activities of daily living. Conclusion: identifying vulnerability among the aged population is a relevant initiative for the adequacy of health policies and programs that prioritize the promotion of aging with the maintenance of functional capacity.

A fragilidade da população idosa

“…No âmbito da gerontologia, aborda-se o conceito de vulnerabilidade como o estado de indivíduos ou grupos que, por alguma razão, têm sua capacidade de autodeterminação reduzida e podem apresentar dificuldades para proteger os próprios interesses devido a déficits de poder, inteligência, educação, recursos, força ou outros atributos (RODRIGUES; NERI, 2012). Pressupõe-se que a identificação da vulnerabilidade em idosos e o conhecimento dos aspectos inerentes ao processo de envelhecimento, assim como de condições associadas a esse processo, são importantes indicadores empíricos que podem fundamentar a alocação de recursos e programas assistenciais para aqueles com maiores possibilidades de desfechos adversos, como redução da capacidade funcional e óbito (BARBOSA et al, 2017). Dessa forma, a identificação de grupos mais vulneráveis, em especial pessoas idosas, é de grande importância na construção de políticas públicas adequadas, pois o envelhecimento é um processo que sofre influência de diversos fatores intrínsecos e extrínsecos, portanto, abordagens biológicas somente não são suficientes para contribuir com as políticas voltadas ao idoso.…”

Vulnerability of the elderly: a conceptual analysis

“…In order to adequately address vulnerability, nurses need to be able to critically analyze such a concept and identify vulnerable older people at different levels of health care. They should also consider that aging is a multidimensional and multidetermined event, where individual, collective and contextual aspects can favor illness and difficulties in accessing the protection resources available in society (3) .…”

Vulnerabilidade clínica e funcional de idosos cuidadores de idosos com doença de Alzheimer

“…It causes progressive and incapacitating cognitive and functional decline, requiring supervision and continuous care as the disease evolves. The care of this population is often provided by elderly people (2) . Despite functional losses inevitable to old age, according to lifestyle and culture, they can present stability, physical, cognitive and emotional competence, thus maintaining the working capacity (3) .…”

“…Caring for a person with Alzheimer's is considered one of the most arduous tasks, affecting the psychological and physical health of the caregiver, who may experience high levels of stress, depression, physical and emotional exhaustion (5) . This situation can be aggravated when it comes to elderly caregivers, with a risk for functional disability, a condition that combined with the changes in aging predispose the advancement of vulnerability, in biological, socioeconomic and psychosocial aspects, marked by the loss of functionality (2) .…”