Domestic organization and Family Support to older Elderly.

Author(s)

Elizandra Cristina Pedrazzi

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2008-09-05

Examining board members

Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues; Damares Tomasin Biazin; Sueli Marques

• Advisor: Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues

Abstract

The context of aging of the elder elderly needs to be considered due to the countrys socioeconomic, political and demographic factors, besides the process of redefining family as a social institution. In this way, research regarding the domestic organization and the social support network, meets the questions related to elderly care at home, especially the elder elderly. It is an epidemiologic cross-sectional study, which aimed to characterize the domestic organization and the social support network of the elder elderly living in Ribeirão Preto, SP, as well as its functionality. The sample was made of 147 elderly. Data were collected in interviews at home, using the social identification and profile, the Minimum Map of Elderly Relations (MMRI) to investigate the support network, the Functional Independence Measure (MIF) and questions about the domestic organizations. The average age of female elderly was 84,4 years, and male 84,1 years, 63,3% were in the age group 80-84 years, 27,2% between 85- 89 years and 9,5% were 90 years or more. There is a larger number of old widows (91,3%) and illiterates (83,3%). From the total of the elderly, 41,5% receive pension, earn from one to three minimum wages (72,1%) and live in their own house (74,1%). The elderly have 4,08 children and live with 2,8 people. Regarding functionality, the variation of the observed score was equal the possible variation of motor, social cognitive and total MIF, as well as its domains, with average scoring close to full score. Most elderly people (81,6%) was classified under the complete/modified independence category, and 15% as minimum dependence, as the elderly get older they become more dependent (p < 0, 001). There was no statistic significance between total MIF and domestic organization, despite the increasing tendency to live alone as MIF scoring raises. The relation to social support was not significant either. Great part (26,5%) of the elderly lives with the spouse, and 14,3% live alone. More them half of the domiciles (57,1%) are lead by the elderly itself. As the age group increases the number of elderly living with the spouse decreases, and increases the ones living with sons/daughters. Regarding the elderly social support network configuration, there was prevalence of people in the first circle, that is, frequently with emphasis for children and family, for all off the analyzed functions. The average of the number of friends and people from the community for all kinds of support was lower than one, what reinforces family as protector and caregiver of the elderly. (AU)