Self-care deficits of institutionalized elderly women

Abstract

This is a descriptive study that aimed to identify the self-care deficits of institutionalized elderly women. It was carried out during the second semester 2009, in a nursing home in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. For data collection we used a semi-structured interview schedule, focusing on conditioning factors and self-care requirements, applied to 24 elderly women. The results show that the main reasons that led to the institutionalization were: absence of relatives, unavailability of children to provide care and need to live in a peaceful environment, without conflicts. Self-care deficits were related to the following factors: hydration, elimination, sleep and rest, health maintenance, social interaction, adaptation to the institutional environment and to changes in the life cycle, control of chronic health problems. From the self-care demands and/or needs identified, the supportive educative system of Orem will subsidize the nursing interventions that aim to engage the elderly women in self-care actions.