The scope of this study was to estimate the prevalence of home care and to identify the demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral and health profile of dependent elderly individuals. The cross-sectional and representative delineation of the communities of Restinga and Extremo Sul in Porto Alegre in the State of Rio Grande do Sul included 638 elderly individuals. Home care was defined as a positive answer to the following question: "Do you have someone here in your home to take care of you?" The prevalence of home care was 49.5% (95% CI: 44.5; 54.5). Children and spouses were responsible for the majority of home care (40.7% and 37%, respectively). Men, unaccompanied and physically inactive individuals, of advanced age, lower educational level, higher economic level, functionally disabled and who had been hospitalized in the last year characterized the profile of the dependent elderly individual. The high prevalence of home care can serve as input for health services for the elderly. Among all the characteristics, functional disability was the one most closely associated with home care.
Elderly; Caregivers; Home nursing; Socioeconomic factors; Aging
