ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND THE FUNCTIONAL ABILITY OF VERY ELDERLY PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITY

Abstract

This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study, aiming to relate functional ability with the socio-demographic variables of the very elderly service users of Primary Health Care. The sample was made up of 65 older adults ≥ 80 years of age in the sampling period of three months, and following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected in the Primary Health Care center and in the older adults’ homes, in 2011, through the administration of a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Functional Independence Measure scale. The results were considered statistically significant when p<0.05. The socio-demographic variables which were significant for functional capacity were: age (p=0.044), place of birth (p=0.029), with whom the person lives (p=0.050), income (p=0.048) and work (p=0.050). The results support the importance of taking into account, during care actions, how social and demographic characteristics influence the functional capacity of very elderly persons; this is elementary to the effectiveness and efficacy of the care.

Keywords

• Elderly aged 80 or over
• Longevity
• Health centers
• Geriatric nursing