Abstract
The new guidelines of the pledge management strengthen actions towards the elderly care now that it has become one of the Health Ministery's priorities. Furthermore, the National Policy of Elderly prescribes a thorough and integrated care with emphasis on the multidimensional approaches that aim at rescuing or preserving both the autonomy and independence of the aging subject. A new paragon in the care appears bringing the comprehensive geriatric assessment, which is accomplished by a multidisciplinary team, as an essential praxis of both tracking and identifying the numerous illnesses to which the elderly is susceptible to. In this kind of assessment, it is fundamental to look into the social issues that might either retard the elderly's recuperation or bring about new maladies. The social interview is a technical instrument that will provide the professional with resources for an assessment that will entail an adequate intervention from the knowledge of the possibilities and limitations of the patients coming to geriatric facilities. This work aims at taking under consideration the social assessment withing the range of the comprehensive geriatric assessment. It is also an effort to contribute to the praxis of the social worker, given that theory in this field is rare and social issues are central to the establishment of efficient therapeutic procedures.
Key words:
Health Policy; Health Services for the Aged; Geriatric Assessment; Patient Care Team; Interview; Aged; Social Conditions; Patient-Centered Care; Social Assessment; Social Work; Comprhensive Geriatric Assessment