Cogitare Enfermagem (Mar 2011)

EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONALITY IN FAMILIES WITH ELDERLY MEMBERS

  • Ana Tarcia Guimarães Paiva,
  • Maria Eliana Peixoto Bessa,
  • Geridice Lorna Andrade de Moraes,
  • Maria Josefina da Silva,
  • Rosy Denyse Pinheiro de Oliveira,
  • Arethusa Morais de Gouveia Soares

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5380/ce.v16i1.21107
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1
pp. 22 – 28

Abstract

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The study aimed to evaluate the functionality of families with elderly members, using the APGAR family instrument. A transversal study was made of 80 elderly persons either resident or not with their families, in an area covered by health units in Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará. The results indicated that a high percentage of the elderly claim to be satisfied with their families, but that those living alone show a lower level of satisfaction. The percentage of families held to be functionally satisfactory was 83.7%. Through use of the APGAR tool it was corroborated that many families with elderly members had good family functionality. In this way, a family APGAR score can contribute as a triage tool for detecting dysfunctional families.

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