[Functional ability and social-care problems of the elderly in the Cáceres health area].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the social environment and to identify the health problems and the functional and mental ability of the elderly in the community.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, observational study by means of a questionnaire.


METHODS
228 people over 71 and not living in an institution.


METHODS
Cáceres Health Area.


METHODS
Questionnaire on social and demographic details, main pathologies, social assessment (Gijón scale), functional assessment (Barthel and Lawton-Brody scales), mental assessment (Pfeiffer test), geriatric problems and visits from health professionals.


RESULTS
67% of the 228 people in the sample were women, with an average age of 79. Comorbidity, present in over 70% of the elderly, was significantly related to multi-medication, falls, hospital admission, depression and insomnia. The most common social and family situation was of a person living with his/her partner (38.3%; CI, 6.31) or children, in a dwelling with architectural barriers (43.0%; CI, 6.43), with a good relationship to his/her social surroundings (61.0%; CI, 6.33). The Barthel test showed a significant relationship with all the geriatric problems declared. The Pfeiffer test showed a relationship with falls (t=3.10; P=.00214), with hearing problems (t=1.98; P=.048), with incontinence (t=3.59; P=.0040) and constipation (t=2.64; P=.0086). The Lawton-Brody test was related, in women, with falls (t=4.27; P=.00034), admissions (t=2.02; P=.044), constipation and sight and hearing problems; and in men, with depression and incontinence.


CONCLUSIONS
Elderly people in the Cáceres Health Area showed good functional ability in their basic daily tasks, less ability in instrumental activities and high comorbidity.
Corrales
D
D
Centro de Salud Plaza de Angel, Plaza de Angel s/n, 1004 Cáceres, Spain.
Palomo
L
L
Magariño Bravo
M J
MJ
Alonso
G
G
Torrico
P
P
Barroso
A
A
Merchan
V
V
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012940:Social Problems; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires