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

Abstract

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