Therole of primary health care in elderly care at rural areas

ABSTRACT

There is general agreement in the literature on the five areas that should be included in a total assessment of groups of the elderly. They are activities of daily living [ADL], mental health, physical health as well as social and economic functioning. However a cross sectional research was done in rural areas aiming at the assessment of health status of the elderly and PHC services provided to them as well as its rate of utilization. A modified multidimensional assessment questionnaire was used. The results revealed several risk factors that may raise the rate of dependence, undiagnosed disabilities, under utilization of the available PHC services and lacking of a program for caring of the elderly at PHC facilities. The study recommended a strategy for care of the elderly in the context of primary health care