MENEZES, L. T. G.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/5397324072911353; MENEZES, Luiza Tereza Gadêlha de.
Resumo:
The rapid growth of the elderly population is a worldwide reality, in which one of the greatest challenges for Brazilian health is presented, especially in the institutionalized elderly. Thus evaluating aging as a phenomenon in which life expectancy increases, the need to investigate whether longevity is occurring at satisfactory levels or whether longevity is being accompanied by declines in function Of the body system, mainly, the cognitive system in which it results in poor quality of life and loss of its own autonomy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of the cognitive function of the institutionalized elderly. This is a study referring to an epidemiological verification of the cross-sectional observational type with a quantitative design, carried out in the municipalities of Cuité-Paraíba and Currais Novos, Rio Grande do Norte, with a sample of only 10 elderly. The data were collected through two instruments: the sociodemographic / behavioral questionnaire and the Mini Mental State Examination - MMSE, after approval by the Ethics Committee. The results showed that the majority of the elderly present a minimum age between 61 and 93 years of age, widows, can read / write and have an individual income from retirement, but refers to satisfaction with their basic needs. Regarding the risk factors, the majority are non-smokers, do not consume alcoholic beverages and do not practice physical exercise, have an intermediate stress level, all present problems and health and all report that they use some type of medication. Regarding the Functional Capacity - CF, it turned out that all the elderly present deficits in the cognitive system, evidencing in a negative way the dependence of caregivers and specific care where their loss of autonomy is clear. Therefore, the health care of the elderly should be directed mainly to institutionalized elderly people, not frail due to the loss of family life, social interaction, increased sedentary life and even cases of depression, resulting in elderly people with a deficit Increasingly compromised. CF's decline in the cognitive system is becoming more frequent and nursing in front of public health agencies should seek to stimulate self-care, facilitating their social participation and providing improvements in QoL indexes.