Resumo

SAIDEL, Maria Giovana Borges  e  CAMPOS, Claudinei José Gomes. The perception of health professionals regarding the care for the elderly with mental disorders. SMAD, Rev. Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool Drog. (Ed. port.) [online]. 2020, vol.16, n.1, pp. 1-8. ISSN 1806-6976.  http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2020.153947.

OBJECTIVE: to understand the perceptions of the staff of a Psychosocial Care Center regarding the care for the elderly with mental disorders. METHOD: qualitative study with a theoretical and methodological framework: Theory of Social Representations. The field of study was a Psychosocial Care Center in the state of São Paulo. Convenience sampling was used, and the sample consisting of 12 professionals was determined by saturation. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed by thematic content analysis. RESULTS: three categories emerged, and they showed contradictions regarding the professionals' perceptions of the CAPS' role. Such contradictions may be supported on the representations concerning the difficulties reported in the care for the elderly, which overlap with those in the care for individuals with mental disorders. The lack of strategies for routine care is discussed, and professional education is mentioned as important although it is non-existent. The burnout of mental health professionals emerges, and the perception of the lack of human resources is revealed in the discourses. These problems bring about a representation of insufficient practices that will reflect on the care for the elderly with mental disorders. CONCLUSION: the study contributes with clarifications to be addressed in intervention studies in order to strengthen heath care change.

Palavras-chave : Manpower; Mental Health Services; Old Age Assistance; Mental Disorders; Geriatric Psychiatry; Community Health Services.

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