Idosos que vivem com AIDS : uma avaliação da qualidade de vida

Abstract

The elderly population increased more than the young population. All of us go through a process where the decline of our physical and mental strengths happen, to live is relevante ever since it adds quality to the additional years, when the natural aging process can to result in limitations, increases the prevalence of chronic and disabling diseases. The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), it destroys the defense cells making the individual more vulnerable to opportunistic infections and diseases, it’s also known that the HIV virus affects the individual at any age, including already been evidenced its significant increase in the elderly population. This expresses the necessity to know the reality of the daily life of these people. The objective of this final paper was to evaluate the quality of life of the elderly living with AIDS and are being treated at Sinop's Specialized Care Service (SAE). This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with a quantitative approach, was developed in the SAE through interviews with the elderly using the Quality of Life Questionnaire – WHOQOL-OLD. The study demonstrated that the mean age of the participants was 63.5 years, with an average of 62.3 for men and 64.8 for women. It was verified that of the 20 elderly studied, 45% are female and 55% are male. About the marital situation, 60% live without partners, and 40% have companions. Regarding schooling and income, 50% do not have schooling and 85% have income greater than 1 minimum wage. In relation to work, 75% do not work and 25% have fixed work. 85% of the participants participate in the elderly group and 60% of them live with the HIV virus for more than five years and 40% have the disease to less than 5 years.