Ethical aspects of the assistance to dependent aged people and their carers

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.200630.4.19

Abstract

Aging transforms active and productive people into vulnerable and dependent ones. Aged people are the most frequent
interned patients and pass the greatest time in hospital beds in Brazil in relation to other age groups. IBGE’s [Demographic and Statistic
Federal Agency] indices, with data from the National Research of Domiciles Sample of (2004) show that 73.1% of the Brazilians
with more than 60 years live in domiciles with “per capita” income of up to two Brazil’s minimum wages. The Interdisciplinary Primary
Level Assistance to Aged People Extension Project (Projeto de Extensão Assistência Interdisciplinar ao Idoso em Nível Primário - PAINP)
gathers together professors and students of different areas of the State University of Londrina (UEL), in actions directed to old people
registered in the cadastre of the Family Health Program (PSF) of a Londrina Basic Unit of Health. The present article aims to make a
bioethical reflection on family and professional carers of dependent old people in the context of actions developed in PAINP Project such
as domiciliary visits, meetings with family carers and teams of PSF. Gathered data are worrisome and the questions raised indicate the
necessity of extending the discussion of its ethical aspects with relation to the aging process so that a worthier life can be guaranteed
to dependent old people in a society that ages quickly.