Pessoa idosa em lista de espera e residente em instituição de longa permanência :possíveis diferenças na qualidade de vida

Abstract

Introduction: Increased longevity, changes in family conditions and lack of political structure to meet the specifics of the elderly population, provide the increased demand for long-term institutions that go beyond the need for housing, but also for health care. When comparing the quality of life of institutionalized with the non-institutionalized population, studies show the negative effect of these institutions on the quality of life of the elderly. Objective: To evaluate possible differences in the quality of life of elderly people on waiting lists, residents in long-term institutions and those who are not waitlisted nor show interest in residing in such institution. Method: A quantitative, cross-sectional study with three groups - elderly people on a waiting list to live in long-stay institutions (waitlisted), residents of long- stay institutions (resident) and everyone not on waiting list or wishing to reside in long-term (control) of the city of João Pessoa - PB institutions. Fifty respondents in each group answered a questionnaire using standard assessment tools for quality of life: WHOQOL BREF and WHOQOL OLD. Results: The sample was predominantly female 76%, mean age between groups differed less than 2.5 years (p=0.2166) and years of study ranged between 6.3 in the resident and 7.2 for the control (p=0.70). The most cited reasons for institutionalization were: own option and the lack of caregiver for resident and waitlisted groups, while be alone for a long time was an important reason also for the resident . Religious (p=0.0140), leisure time (p<0.0001) and domestic (p=0.0003) activities were developed by the group least expects . There was no significant difference in functional capacity between the groups (p=0.2019). There was significant difference in the quality of life in all areas and issues of the WHOQOL BREF among the three groups, the mean total scores were: 62.0±10.61, 44.1±13.63 and 68.8±7.07, respectively for the resident, waitlisted and control groups. Important differences were also identified in the evaluation of the WHOQOL OLD. The total score for the resident was 60.4±9.88, waitlisted to 48.5±12.15 and 68.5±7.90 for the control (p<0.0001). The only facet that no statistical difference was death and dying in the comparison of the three groups. Conclusion: We found a clear difference in quality of life among existing resident, waitlisted and control groups, and the scores of the resident were closer to the control group and those produced by the waitlisted were invariably lower. Therefore, it is considered that institutionalization does not provide poorer quality of life of the elderly. The perception of this quality can already be compromised when seeking institutionalization