Publicação
Integral care for elderly people isolated in emergency services during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: nursing interventions to promote the care-of-the-self
| Resumo: | Introduction: The impact of isolation on the aged during the SARS-CoV-2Introduction: The impact of isolation on the aged during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, particularly in hospital emergency services (ES), was a matter of great concern. The pandemic demanded strict infection prevention and control measures, which made care environments more challenging for older individuals. Nursing interventions were essential to promote care-of-the-self, comfort, well-being, and quality of life among aged individuals in isolation. Objectives: To explore, from a first-person perspective, the feelings and needs of aged individuals isolated in a ES during the pandemic; as well as the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in providing comprehensive care to these individuals. Materials and methods: An action-research project was conducted using semi-structured interviews with aged individuals and a questionnaire administered to nurses and physicians in a ES. Data were analyzed through content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: The study included 20 aged individuals isolated in an ES, along with 36 nurses and 14 doctors who provided them with care in that context. Interviews with the aged revealed the negative impact of isolation on their emotional and social health, highlighting the key role of family as a source of support. The questionnaires applied to the healthcare team made it possible to identify the professionals needs and expectations, while recognizing their potential and ethical commitment to providing comprehensive health care. Findings also showed that adopting simple and low-cost measures, such as improving communication, allowing family visits, adapting the physical environment, and implementing a more holistic and person-centred care approach, contributes significantly to addressing major public health challenges, such as the constraints imposed by COVID-19. Conclusions: The study concludes that family involvement and effective communication are essential to promote the emotional well-being of the aged. The interventions implemented aimed not only to improve comfort and quality of life but also to strengthen the partnership between healthcare professionals, aged individuals, and their families, fostering comprehensive care. pandemic, particularly in hospital emergency services (ES), was a matter of great concern. The pandemic demanded strict infection prevention and control measures, which made care environments more challenging for older individuals. Nursing interventions were essential to promote care-of-the-self, comfort, well-being, and quality of life among aged individuals in isolation. Objectives: To explore, from a first-person perspective, the feelings and needs of aged individuals isolated in a ES during the pandemic; as well as the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in providing comprehensive care to these individuals. Materials and methods: An action-research project was conducted using semi-structured interviews with aged individuals and a questionnaire administered to nurses and physicians in a ES. Data were analyzed through content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: The study included 20 aged individuals isolated in an ES, along with 36 nurses and 14 doctors who provided them with care in that context. Interviews with the aged revealed the negative impact of isolation on their emotional and social health, highlighting the key role of family as a source of support. The questionnaires applied to the healthcare team made it possible to identify the professionals needs and expectations, while recognizing their potential and ethical commitment to providing comprehensive health care. Findings also showed that adopting simple and low-cost measures, such as improving communication, allowing family visits, adapting the physical environment, and implementing a more holistic and person-centered care approach, contributes significantly to addressing major public health challenges, such as the constraints imposed by COVID-19. Conclusions: The study concludes that family involvement and effective communication are essential to promote the emotional well-being of the aged. The interventions implemented aimed not only to improve comfort and quality of life but also to strengthen the partnership between healthcare professionals, aged individuals, and their families, fostering comprehensive care. |
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| Autores principais: | Raimundo , Bráulia Rossana |
| Outros Autores: | Sousa, Fernando Luís Oliveira; Gomes, Idalina Delfina |
| Assunto: | Pessoas idosas Isolamento Serviço de urgência SARS-CoV-2 Cuidado integral Cuidado-de-si Aged Patient isolation SARS-CoV-2 Comprehensive health care Care-of-the-self Emergency service |
| Ano: | 2026 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Tipo de acesso: | unknown |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Católica Portuguesa |
| Idioma: | português |
| Origem: | Cadernos de Saúde |
| Resumo: | Introduction: The impact of isolation on the aged during the SARS-CoV-2Introduction: The impact of isolation on the aged during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, particularly in hospital emergency services (ES), was a matter of great concern. The pandemic demanded strict infection prevention and control measures, which made care environments more challenging for older individuals. Nursing interventions were essential to promote care-of-the-self, comfort, well-being, and quality of life among aged individuals in isolation. Objectives: To explore, from a first-person perspective, the feelings and needs of aged individuals isolated in a ES during the pandemic; as well as the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in providing comprehensive care to these individuals. Materials and methods: An action-research project was conducted using semi-structured interviews with aged individuals and a questionnaire administered to nurses and physicians in a ES. Data were analyzed through content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: The study included 20 aged individuals isolated in an ES, along with 36 nurses and 14 doctors who provided them with care in that context. Interviews with the aged revealed the negative impact of isolation on their emotional and social health, highlighting the key role of family as a source of support. The questionnaires applied to the healthcare team made it possible to identify the professionals needs and expectations, while recognizing their potential and ethical commitment to providing comprehensive health care. Findings also showed that adopting simple and low-cost measures, such as improving communication, allowing family visits, adapting the physical environment, and implementing a more holistic and person-centred care approach, contributes significantly to addressing major public health challenges, such as the constraints imposed by COVID-19. Conclusions: The study concludes that family involvement and effective communication are essential to promote the emotional well-being of the aged. The interventions implemented aimed not only to improve comfort and quality of life but also to strengthen the partnership between healthcare professionals, aged individuals, and their families, fostering comprehensive care. pandemic, particularly in hospital emergency services (ES), was a matter of great concern. The pandemic demanded strict infection prevention and control measures, which made care environments more challenging for older individuals. Nursing interventions were essential to promote care-of-the-self, comfort, well-being, and quality of life among aged individuals in isolation. Objectives: To explore, from a first-person perspective, the feelings and needs of aged individuals isolated in a ES during the pandemic; as well as the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in providing comprehensive care to these individuals. Materials and methods: An action-research project was conducted using semi-structured interviews with aged individuals and a questionnaire administered to nurses and physicians in a ES. Data were analyzed through content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: The study included 20 aged individuals isolated in an ES, along with 36 nurses and 14 doctors who provided them with care in that context. Interviews with the aged revealed the negative impact of isolation on their emotional and social health, highlighting the key role of family as a source of support. The questionnaires applied to the healthcare team made it possible to identify the professionals needs and expectations, while recognizing their potential and ethical commitment to providing comprehensive health care. Findings also showed that adopting simple and low-cost measures, such as improving communication, allowing family visits, adapting the physical environment, and implementing a more holistic and person-centered care approach, contributes significantly to addressing major public health challenges, such as the constraints imposed by COVID-19. Conclusions: The study concludes that family involvement and effective communication are essential to promote the emotional well-being of the aged. The interventions implemented aimed not only to improve comfort and quality of life but also to strengthen the partnership between healthcare professionals, aged individuals, and their families, fostering comprehensive care. |
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