Family functionality: A study of Brazilian institutionalized elderly individuals

This study presents an analysis of a potential association between family functionality and the variables of gender, length of institutionalization, family composition, depressive symptoms, and cognitive disorders in elderly individuals living in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) in a city in the interior of Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study with a descriptive-correlational design. A total of 107 institutionalized elderly individuals were interviewed. Data were analyzed through raw and adjusted Logistic Regression. The results indicate that most elderly individuals experience family dysfunction, 57% present a high level of family dysfunction, 21% present moderate family dysfunction and 22% present good family functionality. There was a statistical association between the Family APGAR and the variables of length of institutionalization, depressive symptoms, family composition and cognitive disorders. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.