Perfil demográfico, de saúde e participação social de idosos em um serviço hospitalar: discutindo ações para Terapia Ocupacional

Abstract

Objective: to identify the demographic, health and social participation profile of elderly people admitted to a hospital and discuss occupational therapists' performance strategies in this context. Method: cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive study. Carried out at a university hospital in a municipality in Sergipe, with individuals of both sexes and at least 60 years old. A structured interview script was used, consisting of open and closed questions, and the assessment of social participation was carried out through the question “environment: environmental resources”, from the self-assessment instrument of occupational functioning. Results: 80 elderly people participated, 43 men and 37 women, with an average age of 74 years. Of the interviewees, 93.75% had a religion, 38.75% were married or lived in a stable union, 96.25% retired, 72.50% received from one to two minimum wages and 55.00% had between zero and three years of schooling. The length of stay averaged 8.08 days, with 73.75% in the medical clinic and 26.25% in the surgical clinic and 60% were discharged due to improvement. Diseases of the genitourinary and circulatory system were the most common. Most of the elderly did not attend environments favorable to their health and, among those who did, the church and the homes of friends and family were more prevalent. Conclusion: the elderly population had specific characteristics regarding their profile and low social participation in health-friendly environments was identified. Occupational therapists can contribute to the return to daily activities and social participation of the elderly, especially considering the discharge period, given the discontinuities resulting from the illness and hospitalization process.