Qualidade de vida da pessoa idosa: o que a literatura cientifica desvela sobre os principais pontos defendidos?

Abstract

Successful aging refers not only to a smaller probability of disease but also to the maintenance of physical and mental functional capacities and active social engagement with the social web, thus providing a better quality of life for the individual who is aging. As a consequence of the growth of elderly population, it is necessary to expand and qualify actions of promotion in health education, prevention and retardation of diseases and weaknesses and maintenance of independence and autonomy. Focusing the importance of quality of life of the elderly, maintenance of autonomy and functional capacity and disease prevention, this work is developed towards the following goal: to search the main objects of study investigated and published in the scientific literature of nursing related to quality of life of the elderly. The study was of exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative approach types using a methodology based on the integrative review, conducted in February 2016. The sample consisted of 18 articles related to the production of nursing about quality of life. The realization of this study considered the Resolution No. 466/2012 of the National Health Council - CNS of Ministry of Health - MS and Chapter 3 of the Code of Ethics of Nursing Professionals. The results were discussed from the perspective of the categories. From the analysis of the selected texts five categorical discussion were created: concepts on quality of life, risk factors, quality of life, health promotion related to quality of life, chronic diseases associated with quality of life and instruments for the assessment of quality of life. The study contributes to the knowledge about the importance of quality of life in the elderly and the domains that more compromise the quality of life in this group, providing the planning of assistance centered on interventions that best assign an support a salutary aging. For literature, the study provides the basis for new research taking into account aspects of quality of life underexplored.