SOCIAL SUPPORT AND HEALTH CONDITIONS OF BRASILIAN ELDERLY IN THE COMMUNITY

Abstract

Objectives: to describe the sociodemographic and health characteristics of the elderly population in the community; to measure the social support of the elderly and to verify the association between health conditions and the best level of social support. Material and Method: Cross-sectional study carried out in the urban area of health micro-region of Uberaba, State of Minas Gerais, with 962 elderly people from the community; data collection, through direct interview, carried out at the elderly’s home, from May 2017 to June 2018, was developed using the following instruments: Abbreviated Geriatric Depression Scale, Brazilian Version of the Short Physical Performance Battery, Brazilian Functional and Multidimensional Assessment Questionnaire, Frailty Phenotype Components proposed by Fried, Health Well-Being Study Questionnaire and Aging and Social Support Scale. Results: Most were female, 70-80 years of age, had 1 to 5 years of schooling, lived with partner, single monthly income of up to one minimum wage, moderate / good physical performance, pre-frail, no problems for sleep, with five or more self-reported morbidities and no indication of depressive symptoms. The percentage of hospitalized elderly who reported falls in the last 12 months was 17% and 28.3%, respectively. The mean social support score was 88.14 (± 16.81). The absence of falls in the last 12 months (b=0.064, p=0.045) and absence of the indicative of depressive symptoms (b=0.254, p<0.001) were associated with the best level of social support. Conclusions: The elderly with lower scores of depressive symptoms and who did not have falls presented a better level of social support.