The objective is to analyze the existing literature on the preservation of ethical autonomy of older people and the implications for nursing care. The search was performed using the Virtual Health Library, from 2003 to 2011. Three issues came up from the analysis: social vision on the elderly; the ethical principle of autonomy for the elderly; and Respect for autonomy in nursing care for the elderly. It concludes that the promotion and preservation of the independence of older people are fundamental to nursing care in order to ensure comprehensive care and provide active participation and citizen of the elderly, while individual and collective subject.
Elderly; Personal autonomy; Nursing care; Ethics