title: [Social support networks for elderly patients attended by Family Health teams].
abstract: The aging process has specific aspects marked by the class of individuals and social groups as well as cultural, political, socio-economic and sanitary conditions of the collective groups. Social support systems are essential for meeting the specific needs of the elderly. The aim of this paper is to describe the socio-demographic profile and the social support networks of elderly patients served by the Family Health Strategy. It's a cross-sectional study with elderly patients living in Dourados, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil). Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and a Minimum Relationships Map for the Elderly (MMRI). Of the 503 elderly patients interviewed, 69% were female, 53.1% were illiterate, 58.3% earned less than one minimum salary and 82.9% lived with others. The MMRI showed that the family was the most important provider of care in all the dimensions assessed, but the elderly have their own small social networks. Elderly patients attended by the Family Health teams have low incomes and little formal education, and social support networks that are too small to meet their needs.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul. Rodovia Dourados/Itahum km 12, caixa postal 351, Cidade Universitária. 79804-970 Dourados MS. marciaregina@uems.br
authors.forename: Márcia Regina Martins
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alvarenga
authors.forename: Maria Amélia de Campos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Marisa Accioly Rodrigues
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amendola
authors.forename: Odival
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Faccenda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors