title: [The Family Health Strategy and healthcare for the elderly: experiences in three Brazilian cities].
abstract: This study focuses on healthcare for the elderly under the Family Health Strategy in three municipalities (counties) in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, specifically analyzing the organization of the healthcare network and the knowledge of six health teams, using interviews and focus groups. The study emphasized the central role of work by community health agents, the prioritization of program activities as compared to management of problems in the community covered by the strategy, a work overload in the health teams, disorganization of the healthcare networks, and lack of systemic approaches based on the basic contents of Geriatrics and Gerontology. The article concludes that there is a need for a healthcare network for the elderly consisting of hierarchically organized services and levels of care that provide support for the healthcare teams' work. The teams could also benefit from continuing education programs. The undergraduate medical curriculum should also include more course content in geriatrics and gerontology.
authors: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pinto Guedes 140, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. lumotta@uerj.br
authors: Luciana Branco da
authors: LB
authors: Motta
authors: Adriana Cavalcanti de
authors: AC
authors: Aguiar
authors: Célia Pereira
authors: CP
authors: Caldas