This descriptive, quantitative and transversal study aimed to characterize the profile of long-term care institutions in the city of Botucatu, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. We interviewed technical managers and the coordinators of nine institutions in the municipality, with concordance analysis of some answers it was used the Katz instrument to analyze the degree of dependency of elderly. The main results were: lack of resources, especially human; reference and counter-reference difficulties; lack of social support and problems related to their relatives. Moreover, there were leisure activities restrictions for elderly people and both the evaluation of the quality of assistance and continuing education activities that contribute to caregivers did not occur systematically. The study showed the need of activities that promote independence and social integration of elderly, and more careful selection and training of caregivers. Therefore, the performance of skilled professionals through an interdisciplinary approach is important, with better integration of services with the participation of several agencies involved in the care of the elderly, and family ties should be maintained and strengthened in this process.
Homes for the Aged; Long-term Institution for Elderly; Dependency (Psychology); Quality of Life; Health Promotion; Human Resources; Education, Continuing
