Abstract

SANHUEZA PARRA, Marcela Isabel del Pilar; CASTRO SALAS, Manuel  and  MERINO ESCOBAR, José Manuel. Optimizing older adults' functionality through a self-care strategy. av.enferm. [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.1, pp.23-31. ISSN 0121-4500.

Purpose: assess how a self-care program affects the functionality of older adults living in a Family Health Center located in the south of Chile. Methodology: pure experimental study that involved the participation of a group of older adults aged 65 to 79 years old, during July and August, 2002, intended to measure the functionality regarding basic functional needs, mental functions and self-perception of health. Results: strong relation between the participation in the self-care program and absence of dependence for basic functional needs p=0,0001; intact mental functions p= 0,01 and good self-perception of health p=0,0002. Discussion: the results are correlated with the results obtained by Domínguez O, Albala C and cols., Mella R; Gordillo Y; and Lara R, Mardones M (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). All of the foregoing, describe high percentages of older adults that are functionally independent, as opposed to Sequeira D; and Muñoz, M. and cols. (6, 7), who obtained high percentages of dependence. Cognitive functions are normal just as in the study of R and Mardones M (5). Self-perception of health is normal just as in the studies of Albala C e cols., and in the reply to the study made by Gordillo Y (1, 4). Conclusion: the self-care program would constitute a stimulating background by Lehr and Orem needed for preserving or correcting the natural functional decline of older adults (8, 9), and favor the independence to fulfll day-to-day needs, apart from improving mental functions and self-perception of health.

Keywords : Aged; Community Health Nursing; Self Care.

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