Inequality in the characteristics of the institutionalized elderly in the city of Natal, Brazil.
The aim of this study was to describe the differences in the profile of elderly residents in non-profit and for-profit Long-Term Residential Institutions for the Elderly (ILPI). We visited 12 ILPIs in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Six of them were non-profits housing 260 elderly, and six were for-profit institutions, housing 127 elderly. The unequal characteristics of the elderly in these facilities are based on socioeconomic data and the reason for institutionalization. The data was submitted to Chi-squared or Student's t, with a significance level of 5%. Illiterate, single, black or brown, individuals with no retirement/pension or healthcare plan, no children and no visitors who purchase something outside the institution with their own money are associated with non-profit ILPIs. When analyzing the reasons for institutionalization, family conflict, abandonment and being homeless were associated with the elderly institutionalized in non-profit ILPIs. The main reason for the elderly institutionalized in for-profit ILPIs was "being ill". The conditions of the elderly in non-profit ILPIs were poorer, reflecting the social inequality these subjects experienced throughout their lifetime.
Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. R. Joaquim Gregório s/n, Penedo. 59300-000 Caicó RN Brasil. nahpinheiro@hotmail.com.
Natália Cristina Garcia
NC
Pinheiro
Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. R. Joaquim Gregório s/n, Penedo. 59300-000 Caicó RN Brasil. nahpinheiro@hotmail.com.
Vinicius Carlos Duarte
VC
Holanda
Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. R. Joaquim Gregório s/n, Penedo. 59300-000 Caicó RN Brasil. nahpinheiro@hotmail.com.
Laércio Almeida de
LA
Melo
Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. R. Joaquim Gregório s/n, Penedo. 59300-000 Caicó RN Brasil. nahpinheiro@hotmail.com.
Annie Karoline Bezerra de
AK
Medeiros
Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. R. Joaquim Gregório s/n, Penedo. 59300-000 Caicó RN Brasil. nahpinheiro@hotmail.com.
Kenio Costa de
KC
Lima
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors