Preventive care and education in elderly health: a proposal for the integration of knowledges and practices

The aging of the Brazilian population brought changes in their epidemiological profile: increased occurrence of chronic illnesses and functional disabilities; increased demand for health services. The knowledge of the characteristics and elements of such changes have represented a challenge to public health researchers. A preliminary attempt to meet such challenge comes from a program of assistance to the elderly in the city of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the support of an independent agency backed by the commercial sector (SESC-Minas). A sample of individuals aged 60 and above responded to a semi-structured questionnaire to socioeconomic variables, health conditions and life styles. The survey was a research instrument for the proposal of preventive action and active ageing. The data revealed the main diseases: arterial hypertension (63.8 percent); osteoarthritis (25.5 percent); heart diseases (17%) and diabetes (10.6 percent). “`Polipharmacy” was identified in 29.8% of seniors, including the use of allopathic drugs, phytotherapy and medicinal plants. 25.5 percent reported skin lesions, 72.3% wore dentures and 2.1% orthopedic prostheses. Most elderly people claimed to follow a healthy diet (85.1%), but all reported some form of functional loss. The results suggest that the Program relies on the participation of seniors with health profile similar to the general population of Brazilian elderly, with wide occurrence of chronic diseases, edentulism and high consumption of medicines. This study reinforces the importance of interdisciplinary work as subsidy for the development of more effective interventions, taking into account the perspectives of the elderly and their needs.