Characteristics of elderly mental Health primary care in Marilia municipality

• Grant number: 12/11784-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health
• Principal Investigator: Maria José Sanches Marin
• Grantee: Vinicius Spazzapan Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Elderly mental health care is a relevant issue since several types of research identify a 30% prevalence of mental disorders among older individuals. Such disorders are often considered a natural consequence of the aging process and are pessimistically regarded from the therapeutics' point of view. Objectives: complaints, adopted approaches, referrals to mental health services, and their effectiveness in Family Health Strategy (FHS) assistance will be characterized. Methods: this is a transversal descriptive study, aiming to review medical records of FHS patients aged over 60, including home care-assisted elderly people, referred to the specialist mental health service. Six representative municipality population Family Health Units (FHU) were selected. The total sample corresponds to 245 individuals, proportionally chosen according to the elderly population size from each FHU. Analysis of results: descriptive statistics are used, with data presented in tables and graphics.(AU)