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

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 942 - 950
• Main Authors: Cruz, Vania Dias, Santos, Silvana Sidney Costa, Tomaschewski-Barlem, Jamila Geri, Silva, Bárbara Tarouco da, Lange, Celmira, Abreu, Daiane Porto Gautério de, Oliveira, Flávia Seles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem 01-05-2018
• Subjects: Adults; Aged; Aging; Alcohol; Brazil; Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde; Cognition; Consumption; Cuidados de Enfermagem; Enfermagem Geriátrica; Female; Humans; Idoso; Internet; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; Nursing care; Older people; Psychotropic Drugs - adverse effects; Psychotropic Drugs - pharmacology; Psychotropic Drugs - therapeutic use; Qualitative Research; Risk Factors; Usuários de Drogas; Brazil; Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
• ISSN: 0034-7167; 1984-0446; 1984-0446
• DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0637

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.
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.
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.