Self-care ability of hospitalized adults and elderly people

impact on nursing care

Abstract

This was a descriptive and exploratory study on the self-care capacity of adults and elderly, hospitalized for treatment of disease or chronic health problems. The study aimed to classify and evaluate this group regarding their degree of dependence in relation to self-care, according to the theoretical conception of Dorothea Orem, using the self-care capacity scale adopted by Carpenito-Moyet. We studied 193 subjects, selected from the clinical inpatient units of the University Hospital at the Federal University of juiz de Fora (MG) in the first quarter of 2011. Data were collected from the medical records of the hospitalized patients and supplemented by nursing visits. Among the findings, it was noted that 98 patients were completely independent (50.78%), while 95 patients had some type of dependence for self-care (49.22%). Of the latter, 3 patients were classified at dependence level "1" (3.16%), requiring assistive equipment; 57 patients at dependence level "2" (60%), requiring assistive persons; 19 patients at dependence level "3" (20%), requiring assistive persons and equipment; 16 patients at dependence level "4" (16.84%), totally dependent. Thus, with the increasing number of patients with chronic disorders that involve some level of dependence, we propose the development of systematic nursing actions concerning adults and elderly who exhibit self-care deficit syndrome, and their relatives, at all levels of health care in the Unified Health System, aimed not only at rehabilitation, but at actions that promote good health and the prevention of new health problems.