Rural and Remote Health

www.rrh.org.au
James Cook University ISSN 1445-6354

Abstract

'Consultas em dia': consultations at the day care center for the elderly

Part of Special Series: WONCA World Rural Health Conference Abstracts 2022go to url

AUTHORS

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Maria João Nuno Lopes1 GP

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Sofia Monteiro2 Resident *

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Ana Paula Barata Coutinho3 Family Nurse

CORRESPONDENCE

*Mrs Sofia Monteiro

AFFILIATIONS

1, 2, 3 Unidade Local de Saúde da Guarda, Guarda, Portugal

PUBLISHED

10 January 2023 Volume 23 Issue 1

HISTORY

RECEIVED: 20 September 2022

ACCEPTED: 20 September 2022

CITATION

Nuno Lopes M, Monteiro S, Barata Coutinho A.  'Consultas em dia': consultations at the day care center for the elderly. Rural and Remote Health 2023; 23: 8177. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH8177

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

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abstract:

Introduction: Gonçalo, a village with 1316 inhabitants of which 573 are 65 years old or older, presents itself as the 'Cradle of Fine Basketry'. Its population, rich in culture and stories to tell, has the support of a day care center for the elderly, where around 20 elderly people spend their days and find social connection. These patients make individual trips to access medical and nursing consultations.

Methods: Creation of a monthly consultation at the day care center for the elderly patients there.

Results:

  • Reduction in the number of individual trips by the elderly patients, through the displacement of the family team;
  • Optimizing the management of each individual health plan with the support of the day center's technical director, including therapeutic management and carrying out complementary diagnostic tests;
  • Observation of the elderly patients in a safer way, avoiding traveling and maintaining a familiar space;
  • Closer ties between the elderly patients and healthcare team; and
  • Training of day care center professionals.

    • Discussion: At the heart of the practice of a healthcare team is the health and well-being of each patient. Therefore, meeting their needs, reallocating resources and involving the community will lead to health gains. The 'Consultas em Dia' project reflects this same onjective: the need of each elderly person to have access to GP/family nurse consultations joined with the healthcare team's willingness to provide an adapted response. Together we improved access and care delivery … we improved the health of our community!

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