Gestão gerontológica domiciliar: a fragilidade do crepúsculo de uma flor

Abstract

This study intends to understand how features related to elderly dementia care develop, if grounded on a Homely Gerontology Management (Gestão Gerontológica Domiciliar - GGD). Professional experience incited me to write this study on GGD s building process, within elderly dementia care organization, involving also the family, caregivers and the environment. Research was carried through in the field of private homely care, in São Paulo, along with a team of professionals responsible for the care of an elderly patient with dementia. In a qualitative approach, I employed the participant observation of the care organization, as well as a semi-structured interview with some of the team s members. The study shows that the care organization to dementia subjects yields dynamic features and demands to be constantly re-structured. GGD is part of this complex functioning group and, in this study, seven approaches are described and detailed: 1) clinic evolution s monitoring; 2) the patient s emotional and psychic suffering aspects care; 3) family orientation; 4) recruiting, selection, training and development of professionals involved in elderly care; 5) orientation and management of home employees; 6) environmental adequacy; 7) financial management. The obtained knowledge does not intend to cover all the questions in the field. However, it was presented as a possible therapeutic in care actions carried out in the private health system, and which, therefore, forces us to reflect upon the extension of such experience to the public sphere, in lack of care projects to elderly subjects in fragile situation