Abstract

BOREGAS, Flavia; MARTINS, Raquel; YAMAGUCHI, Mirian  and  GROSSI-MILANI, Rute. Social support perception and health conditions of institutionalized elderly. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.3, pp.832-843.  Epub Dec 31, 2022. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/22psd230320.

Social relationships are recognized as a unique element of well-being, having cumulative effects on health. In turn, social support is an important ally of comprehensive health care for the elderly. The objective of this study was to understand the perception of elderly people assisted by a long-stay institution (ILP) about social support and to analyze its relationship with health conditions. This is a descriptive-exploratory, qualitative, cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 30 elderly people of both sexes of eastern ascent, of the non-probabilistic and intentional type. First, the medical records of the elderly assisted by the ILP were consulted, in order to fill in the Clinical Assessment Form for the Elderly, followed by the application of a semi-structured interview script, containing 10 questions about understanding and access to social supports, organized into three blocks: relationships (family and social), aid and care, and health conditions. From the answers obtained in the interviews, it was found that the institutionalized elderly recognize in the care team an important resource of social support, which reflects positively on their health conditions, configuring a protective factor. It is concluded that social support gives the elderly better conditions to face difficulties in their health condition.

Keywords : Social support; Old age home; Elderly health.

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