FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY ANALYSIS OF THE INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY

Abstract

This study examined the degree of functional ability of elderly institutionalized and possible associations with some sociodemographic variables. The elderly are part of the Bread of San Antonio Institution in Belém of Pará, Brazil. To gather data, a measure of function independence (MIF) test and the qui-quadrado test to analize possible significances were used. The study had 47 elderly participants, with a prevalence of 34 (66%) with complete independence/modified and a average of 109,7 ± 9,3 points. Based on data of the elderly functional capacity, a significant statistical relationship between the functional capacity and the sociodemographic variables, age and education (p= 0,0022 and p= 0,0257 respectively) was observed. The work revealed a high rate of functional independence among the institutionalized elderly and the importance of developing studies that aim to multi-interdisciplinary approach in institutions of elderly care.