Health education practices for elderly caregivers:

a look at nursing from Paulo Freire's perspective

Abstract

The increase in chronic non-communicable diseases rate, which is the main cause of disabilities and dependencies, is consequence of an aging population. In this context, elderly caregivers are of the upmost importance. To be able to provide better care they need to be advised and guided through educational activities. It is the health professionals’ responsibility, especially the nurses’, to implement such activities. This study aims at reflecting on the nurses’ health education practices directed to elderly caregivers using Paulo Freire’s problematizing and liberating perspective. Often the education imparted is disconnected from that population’s context. When developing their educational practices the professionals must transmit confidence, and through a humanized approach, be able to captivate caregivers, establishing a clear and constructive dialogue between teacher and student. The theory of Paulo Freire values the respect for both the common sense, and the student’s creative capacity; it defends and encourages the naive curiosity that is changed into question that leads to epistemological curiosity that turns into critical reflection, generating a critical consciousness. So the individual is capable of understanding, analysing and confronting his/her given reality, and change it. The nurses’ assimilation of Freire’s ideas can offer elderly caregivers awareness, a critical thinking, and consequently improve their performances.