title: [Sociodemographics, health, and social support to senior users of emergency services].
abstract: The aim of this study was to characterize the sociodemographic aspects, health issues and social support offered to the senior users of the Emergency Department of the Hospital de Clinicas in Porto Alegre. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a random sample of 220 seniors. A structured data form was used to collect data related to the sociodemographic and health characteristics and social support. The majority of subjects were women, married retired,from Porto Alegre, and aged from 60 to 69 years. Almost half reported having poor or very poor health and the prevalent self-reported morbidities were cardiovascular diseases. Differently from other studies with seniors from the community, the majority reported receiving support from family and few provided support. Social support from the formal network was small. Health care must occur in a comprehensive network to provide support to the seniors and their families and to prevent the frequent use of emergency services and to qualify assistance.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Campus Arapiraca, Arapiraca, Alagoas, Brasil. kharenine@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andreivna Kharenine
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Serbim
authors.forename: Ana Valéria Furquim
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Lisiane Manganelli Girardi
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Paskulin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D004522:Educational Status; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012494:Sampling Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors