Palliative care and elderly health in Brazil

Authors

  • Angela Maria Amaral Soares Abou Ali

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23925/2176-901X.2011v14i1p125-136

Keywords:

Paliative Care, Elderly, Hospice

Abstract

In recent years elderly population is increasing substantially, about 650,000 per year, as well as the concept of unifamílies, ie, families consisting of a single person. In this paper, is proposed a reflection about health of elderly in Brazil, and the conditions of a chronic disease and its acute state - terminal. In the actual society, capitalist and capitalized, the individual is valued by his production, losing his value when acquires a disabling illnesses. There is a growing need for work, and each time there is less time and resources to manage the permanence of an elderly patient at home, or pay for a caregiver. This situation leads families to resort to hospitalization, which in turn makes the hospitals overcrowded with patients in this state, affecting both emergency care as the treatment of chronic patients. This fact occurs due to lack of hospital infrastructure, as well by the lack of units of the healthy system capable of providing palliative care. The questioning about the elderly who need palliative care, and reflection about the type of care dispended for this kind of patient, should be the focal point of professional's reflections, capable to lead him to a new way of thinking and, consequently, to inspire him to act in a new way.

Author Biography

Angela Maria Amaral Soares Abou Ali

Coordenadora de Enfermagem do Hospital de Retaguarda Francisco de Assis, em Ribeirão Preto (SP). Enfermeira, Mestre em Gerontologia/PEPG em Gerontologia/PUC-SP.

How to Cite

Abou Ali, A. M. A. S. (2011). Palliative care and elderly health in Brazil. Revista Kairós-Gerontologia, 14(1), 125–136. https://doi.org/10.23925/2176-901X.2011v14i1p125-136

Issue

Section

Papers