ABSTRACT
The growing number of the elderly population and their complex health problems show the necessity of an adequate health care to the elderly, and it is expected that Family Health Strategy will bring contributions to them. This study aims at analyzing the perception of the professionals who work at the Family Health Strategy about the elderly’s health, the actions performed and the perspectives to promote, prevent, cure and rehabilitate the elderly’s health.It is a qualitative study carried out by means of interviews with dentists, nurses and medical doctors who work at the Family Health Strategy. The analysis of results made allowed the identification of three theme categories: 1. non adhesion to care and lack of family support; 2. health assistance centered on cure according to health care protocols; 3. a glimpse at changing the health care models. Data shows a consonance between the interviewed people and the historical and social transformations in the health care model; therefore it is possible to consider that the Family Health Strategy is a way to consolidate the Unified Health System, since it receives the tools for the teams to act according to its new logics.
professional practice; health personnel; patient care team; health of the elderly; health services for the aged; strategies; single health system; qualitative research