CARACTERÍSTICAS DOS AGRAVOS E DA ASSISTÊNCIA PRESTADA AOS IDOSOS EM UM SERVIÇO PRÉ-HOSPITALAR MÓVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISORDERS AMONG OLDER ADULTS AND THE CARE PROVIDED BY A MOBILE PRE-HOSPITAL SERVICE CARACTERÍSTICAS DE LAS LESIONES Y DE LA ASISTENCIA PRESTADA A LOS ANCIANOS EN UN SERVICIO MÓVIL PREHOSPITALARIO

Health professionals are concerned by the increasing numbers of elderly people suffering disorders from external causes. In that light, this retrospective, quantitative, documentary study aimed to characterize the main disorders among older adults in a mobile pre-hospital service in the city of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil, and to examine the corresponding care provided by health professionals. Data were collected from 546 medical records of the city's Emergency Medical Care Service, from January to July 2011. The study found that mobile pre-hospital care provided to elderly patients must be approached on clear criteria. The findings revealed a lack of specific planning for this public and an absence of specific care procedures given the increasing need for preventive approaches to elderly casualties.