Concepções de profissionais de saúde da atenção básica sobre o cuidado a idosos com doença de Alzheimer.

Abstract

With the reduction of mortality and fertility rates, the demographic profile of our country has changed radically, causing a large increase in population, which are the factors growth of the elderly population. Once people get older, some diseases considered as noncommunicable chronicles end up affecting this population, among them is Alzheimer's Disease. Objective: To understand the methods used by health professionals in basic care to address the elderly in the community who are affected by Alzheimer's Disease, as well as to analyze the professionals' points of view regarding the elderly with Alzheimer's Disease in the community and to identify the difficulties faced by these professionals because of these patients and their relatives. Methodology: This is a descriptive, qualitative study carried out in the five Basic Health Units located in the urban area of Cuité, from May 2017 to July 2018. The research was performed with primary care professionals composed of nurses, doctors and community health agents. The data were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using the technique of content analysis proposed by Bardin. Results and discussion: The lack of knowledge about Alzheimer's Disease is associated with the lack of training of professionals in the knowledge about the dimension that approximates human aging. In addition, the home visit was pointed out as one of the methods most used as a host, since it is thus possible to form a link with the population. And in relation to the difficulties faced by the communication, the specialized service and the counter reference were cited as causing non-integral care in the elderly with Alzheimer's Disease. Final considerations: It was possible to perceive the lack of knowledge of the majority of the professionals that compose the basic care about the elderly with Alzheimer's Disease and its complications. It could also be identified how they perform the detection of the elderly with Alzheimer's Disease, and how they conduct the reception of these elderly people in the Basic Health Units. In addition, some difficulties were also pointed out by the professionals as justification for the deficiency in the care with the elderly with Alzheimer.