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The relationship between social support and functional capacity in elderly persons with cognitive alterations
Tábatta Renata Pereira de Brito1, Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini
1Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. tabatta_renata@hotmail.com
Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem
|September 20, 2012
Summary
Social support, particularly emotional support, is linked to better functional capacity in older adults with cognitive changes. This finding aids in developing nursing care to maintain elderly independence and social connections.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive alterations in elderly individuals often impact their functional capacity.
- Social support is a crucial factor in maintaining well-being among the elderly.
- Understanding the interplay between social support and function is vital for geriatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between various dimensions of social support and the functional capacity of elderly individuals with cognitive alterations.
- To identify specific types of social support that most significantly correlate with functional capacity.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study involving 101 elderly participants with cognitive impairments.
- Utilized the Mini-Mental State Examination, Medical Outcomes Study questionnaire, Katz Index, and Pfeffer Questionnaire.
- Assessed dimensions of social support including material, affective, emotional, informational, and positive social interaction.
Main Results:
- Elderly participants reported higher levels of material and affective support compared to other dimensions.
- A statistically significant positive correlation was found between emotional support and functional capacity as measured by the Katz Index.
- The overall average score for social support dimensions was 74.32 points.
Conclusions:
- Emotional social support is significantly associated with maintaining functional capacity in elderly individuals with cognitive alterations.
- Findings support the development of targeted nursing interventions to enhance social support systems for the elderly.
- Effective nursing care pathways can help preserve functional ability and promote social engagement in this population.
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