As pessoas idosas e o suporte social formal em tempo de pandemia

Abstract

Demographic ageing poses enormous challenges and responsibilities for both the social sector and the health system, particularly for primary health care. It is necessary to implement and improve community intervention strategies that mobilise responses and meet the specific needs of the elderly people, especially during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.In this perspective, a community intervention project was developed with elderly people who attended a day care centre, before the pandemic, in an IPSS in the geographical area of the UCC "Saúde a Seu Lado", in Odivelas, from September to December 2020. It aimed to contribute to health literacy in the use of the formal social support networks of these elderly people.The methodology used was the Health Planning of Imperatori and Giraldes (1993), anchored in Betty Neuman's Systems Model (2011). For the situation diagnosis, a questionnaire was applied for sociodemographic characterisation, the social support received and the Satisfaction with Social Support Scale (Ribeiro, 1999). The non-probability sample was composed of 16 people, homogeneous in gender, with an average age of 81.3 years, 44% with a 1st cycle education, 56% living alone and 44% with no children. The results highlighted were: risk of social isolation, emotional support needs, lack of social support, average satisfaction with social support, and low satisfaction in social activities. The nursing diagnosis "risk of social isolation" was prioritised. The following intervention strategies were used: health education, which contributed to the elderly people health literacy regarding the use of formal social support, and the development of partnerships with the community through the development of an intergenerational project. Process and outcome indicators were used for the evaluation.This project also allowed the development of specialist skills in the scope of Community Nursing and Public Health.

Date of Award	19 Oct 2021
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Elisa Maria Bernardo Garcia (Supervisor)