Abstract

GIRALDO M, CLARA INÉS  and  FRANCO A, GLORIA MARÍA. Functional capacity and health: guidelines and nursing care of the elderly. av.enferm. [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.1, pp.43-58. ISSN 0121-4500.

Objective: to assess health and functional capacity of older people with a functional dependence, for self care, as the elements to guide nursing care and family care at home. Methodology: transversal descriptive study in 40 people of 65 years of age and older with a functional dependence, looked after by relatives in Envigado Colombia; convenience sampling. Assessment of the functional capacity using the Katz index and Lawton and Brody's scale, adjusted as per the Neurosciences Group, University of Antioquia. Findings: population between 67 and 98 years old, average age 84,08; 82,5% women. Major organ systems most affected: cardiovascular, osteomuscular and neurological; between 47,5% and 27,5% of the older people had them compromised. Two different behaviors were identified: men and older people, with greater degrees of dependence for basic and instrumental activities; no statistical association was determined due to the small size of the sample. Basic activities were affected as follows: between 67,5% and 55% of the older people needed help; and instrumental activities were compromised: between 95% and 75% of the older people are totally dependent when executing them. Conclusions: Nursing should consider assessment of the functional capacity formulated to the health and integral situation of the older people, in order to guide their care and to support family caregivers. Besides, this will prevent unnecessary care dependences which would be against older people's aspirations as an autonomous and independent individual. It is job of the nursing professional to train family caregivers on assessment of the functional capacity.

Keywords : Caregivers; aged; old age assistance.

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