THE INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY AND THE CULTURE OF PROFESSIONAL CARE

Abstract

Etnographic study on chronically-ill male elders’ self-care, living in a nursing home in Curitiba-PR/ Brazil. The purpose of this study was to characterize the health professionals’ culture of care to the elders in the institution. Data were collected through participant observation and ethnographic interview. Four domains emerged in the analysis, which will ground future caring actions to chronically-ill elders’ self-care: 1. the bath as smell control; 2. Music and drugs: care that means medicine; 3. Falls and traumas: care that keeps independence; 4. Standardized Diets in order to control chronic diseases. It is evidenced, as a culture of care delivery by the health professionals, the management of order and control over all situations, which is fundamental due to the human and financial shortage, making indispensable governability and care generalization.

Keywords

• Care
• Aged
• Culture
• Nursing