Long-Term Care Institutions: potentials and challenges of integration with Primary Health Care.

Abstract

The weak training to understand the demands of older adults in Long-Term Care Institutions raises questions about the supply and challenges for comprehensive care in Primary Health Care. The aim was to analyze professionals' perception about the potentialities and challenges of integration between Long-Term Care Institutions and Primary Health Care (PHC) in providing care to older adults. This is an exploratory and qualitative research with 18 professionals from the PHC health team. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using the Discourse of Collective Subject. The work process presents challenges, such as reception, problem-solving, procedures offered, gaps in organization. The potentialities highlighted are priority in care and institutional monitoring. The challenges contradict the potentialities such as lack of priority, difficulty in care and interaction between teams. The organization and coordination of care is suggested, based on the needs identified, considering the principles and guidelines of the Brazilian Health System and the Elderly Statute.