Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the family functioning of Brazilian elderly people and test how determining factors influence it.
Methods
Cross-sectional study with 2,052 elderly people based on data collected in the baseline of the study Aging, gender and quality of life (AGEQOL), with participants answering questionnaires about family dynamics, basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL and IADL), cognitive state and sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariate ordinal regression models and multiple correspondence analysis identified factors associated with good family functioning.
Results
Most elderly people had good family functioning (76.3%), were married and lived with their spouse (55.5%), had more than six children and grandchildren (85.4% and 76.7%, respectively) and were independent to perform IADL (71.5%). Correspondence analysis resulted in three groups: good, moderate and poor family functioning, and a profile of elderly people with different socioeconomic conditions.
Conclusion
It was possible to infer implications for practices and policies of family care with elderly members to meet their specific routine and life and health conditions.
Keywords
Family relations; Aged; Community; Caregivers; Geriatric nursing
