The objective of this study is to build a socio-functional evaluation instrument for elderly people. The research was developed between March and September of 2007 through a literature review, identification, and analysis of different instruments/scales proposed for functional evaluation. From the analysis of nine scales, the Socio-Functional Evaluation Instrument for Elderly was constructed. It is composed of two parts. The first one seeks to obtain identification information, representation of their health states, and social performance of the elderly. The second seeks to complete the functional evaluation per se. The instrument was evaluated by four judges and was then applied to ten elderly people with different levels of dependency. Its easy application and use in identifying factors that interfere in elderly health, as well as evaluating dependency levels were proven, providing sources for planning elderly health care work.
Aged; Evaluation; Old age assistance; Health of the elderly