Resumo

PEREIRA, Esperança do Gago Alves  e  COSTA, Maria Arminda Mendes. Health centers in Portugal and elderly care at home: a health care center study. Texto contexto - enferm. [online]. 2007, vol.16, n.3, pp. 408-416. ISSN 0104-0707.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-07072007000300005.

This exploratory, descriptive study was developed in a Portuguese health care center with the purpose of analyzing nursing care practices for non-institutionalized elderly, choosing house calls as the practice of choice. Data was collected in interviews conducted with three nurses, as well as participatory observation. We identified the interaction between several participants of this process: the nurses and the elderly in their homes in a content analysis approach. In their performance the nurses should develop a people helping and accompanying posture, promoting therapeutic attitudes in order to allow them to achieve maximum health potential, preventing health disorders, maximizing their well-being, supplementing/complementing the life activities to which they are dependent, developing health problem adaptation processes together with the client and contributing to maximum efficiency in organizing nursing care. Analyzing these practices context, we identify some limitations in the search for excellence of professional exercise.

Palavras-chave : Health centers; Aged; Home visit.