INTRODUCTION: To contribute to the development of health care for the elderly, and identify aspects of health perception useful for monitoring strategies of health hazards linked to the paving of Cuiabá-Santarém Highway (BR-163), social representations of health by the elderly were studied through theory of social representations. METHODOLOGY: A random sample of 89 people aged 60 or over was investigated. Association test with the word "health" and a questionnaire were used. RESULTS: Analysis showed the element "physicians" composing the central system and "hospital", "professionals", "prevention", "disposition" and "money", the peripheral system. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of health assistance influences the build up of health meanings. Results are even more relevant as the paving of BR-163 may bring on new health hazards.
Health; Aged; Health of the Elderly; Preventive Medicine; Social representations
