Conference 2021 Video

 

Project title

Building healthy aging: a health education project for the elderly in Salvador, Brazil

 

Authors and Affiliations

Ana Carla dos Santos Costa1, Larissa Ohana Santos de Araújo1, Victória Sodré Valetim Rodrigues1, Thiago Santana Pereira1, Tiago Pimentel Andrade2, Bianca Aguilar Maciel3, Maria Auxiliadora Santos Haanwinckel4

1. Medical School of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
2. School of Law, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
3. School of Fine Arts, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
4. Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil

 

Abstract

Background

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the aging rate of the Brazilian population has increased in recent years, having reached 40.28% in 2018, with a 76.39% projection for 2030. Consequently, there has been an increase in the demand for health care in this age group. In this context, in 2017, an outreach activity called “Building a healthy aging” was initiated to promote health education.

Methods

Participated in the project students from medical, arts, and law courses of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), and professors and employees from the UFBA Institute of Health Sciences. The activities were carried out monthly from October 2017 to September 2018 and from March to October 2019 with a group of 80-100 elderly people from the community near Lar Harmonia Foundation, a non-governmental organization that operates in the city of Salvador – Bahia (Brazil). Group dynamics and dialogical and recreational oral exposure were carried out. The topics covered follow the calendar suggested by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to raise public awareness. Some of these themes were: diabetes, home accidents, dental care, healthy eating, memory, physical exercise, and sexology. Activities were also carried out on Elderly Rights, Public Defender’s Office, artistic painting, and live music. In 2020, facing the current pandemic of COVID-19, the project acquired the virtual format, with two activities being carried out: “Building a healthy aging: Myths and truths about Respiratory Diseases” and “Building a healthy aging: Myths and truths about Arterial Hypertension”. Both activities were published on UFBA’s platform on Youtube.

Results

A positive acceptance and adherence by the elderly to the proposed activities were observed. During the project, they became more open to share their experiences, talk about health, and think critically about the topics covered. Furthermore, the presence of activities in the area of law and arts allowed the approach of the multidisciplinary nature of health.

Conclusions

Far beyond recreation, this activity was able to contribute to the understanding of the bio, psycho, and social aspects of health and the important role that each individual plays in their healthy aging process.