CONVIVÊNCIA FAMILIAR E INDEPENDÊNCIA PARA ATIVIDADES DE VIDA DIÁRIA ENTRE IDOSOS DE UM CENTRO DIA

Getting old is one of the biggest challenges of public health nowadays, because the raise of life expectation is causing a bigger probability in the development of chronic diseases and disability. The goal of this research was to investigate the level of independence in daily life activities and daily family routine among elderly people. The research was carried out among elderly people who take part in a kind of elderly center in Maringa / Parana State, Brazil, by means of a semi-structured interview as well as application of Kart’s and Lawton’s scales. The results showed high indices of independence to basic daily activities, and dependence to instrumental activities, such as household tasks or laundry. It was concluded that it is important for the elders’ welfare to attend an Elderly Centre, specially when the stimulus to the development of functional activities is concerned, but it seems there is not any familiar interaction or shared family moments during the period that elderly people stay at home.