Assessment of health/functioning of older adults who consume psychoactive substances

• Main Authors: Vania Dias Cruz, Silvana Sidney Costa Santos, Jamila Geri Tomaschewski-Barlem, Bárbara Tarouco da Silva, Celmira Lange, Daiane Porto Gautério de Abreu, Flávia Seles Oliveira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem
• Series: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem
• Subjects: Idoso; Usuários de Drogas; Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde; Enfermagem Geriátrica; Cuidados de Enfermagem
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-71672018000300942&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the health/functioning of the older adult who consumes psychoactive substances through the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, considering the theory of complexity. Method: Qualitative case study, with 11 older adults, held between December 2015 and February 2016 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, using interviews, documents and non-systematic observation. It was approved by the ethics committee. The analysis followed the propositions of the case study, using the complexity of Morin as theoretical basis. Results: We identified older adults who consider themselves healthy and show alterations - the alterations can be exacerbated by the use of psychoactive substances - of health/functioning expected according to the natural course of aging such as: systemic arterial hypertension; depressive symptoms; dizziness; tinnitus; harmed sleep/rest; and inadequate food and water consumption. Final consideration: The assessment of health/functioning of older adults who use psychoactive substances, guided by complex thinking, exceeds the accuracy limits to risk the understanding of the phenomena in its complexity.