Práticas referentes ao envelhecimento em uma unidade básica de saúde: profissionias de saúde e idosos

Abstract

The aim of this study was to know the practices related to aging developed in a Basic Health Unit (UBS) in a region of Curitiba. This exploratory-type research is qualitative, interpretative, and based on Community Social Psychology and Practice Theories. The relevance of this research is to bring insights related to aging in the area of health, looking for indicators of the current scenario of health promotion and disease prevention services directed to the elderly population. The purpose was providing resources to improve the needs emerging from the growing demand of aging within principles of integrality, respect for citizenship, and the rights to health of the elderly. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three health professionals to investigate which knowledge of health policies and practices they acquired during their academic training on aging, and how they develop their work with the elderly. Interviews were also conducted with four people aged sixty or more who attend the UBS to survey the itinerary of the elderly, starting with the reason they seek the services of the unit, reconstructing the process and the procedures resulting from their care. The data analyzed from the perspective of discursive practices indicate that the practices developed are exclusively concerned with complaints and diseases, and do not extend to actions to promote health and prevent diseases. Health prevention is reduced to physical exercises. As for the reasons that lead the elderly to seek the UBS, the most mentioned are seeking care to cure diseases, controlling chronic diseases or seeking medication. This study concluded that the training of these professionals offered a limited view on aging and its potentialities, did not provide knowledge on other dimensions of aging and did not inform the professional about the work aimed at promoting health care for the elderly.