Health care for elderly victims of violence in Rio de Janeiro

The scope of this article is to chart, define and qualify the healthcare provided by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and out-sourced services to elderly people in situations of violence in Rio de Janeiro, based on major policies aimed at this group. This is an exploratory study that triangulated quantitative and qualitative methods. The introduction and implementation of policies is differentiated between the units: they are more thoroughly implemented at the pre-hospital and hospital level and less at rehabilitation level. The challenges involve the professional's ability to identify, attend and report cases of violence; to include the topic in care of the elderly; to give visibility to the specific requirements for elderly women; to instruct and orient families about care, creating strategies to redeem the bonds of affection; to monitor the changes that lead to functional disability and enhance the quality of life of the elderly.