Aspectos familiares, redes de apoyo y discapacidad en personas mayores chilenas: Un estudio comparativo según contexto residencial

Chile is one of the oldest countries in Latin America, the current social crisis facing the country highlights the importance of deepening social policies strengthening the social protection system. In this sense, strengthening the social policies of older people, policies that address and accommodate the various ways to age. In this study we compared the socio-family profile (family functionality and social support networks) and the level of dependence of a sample 62 non-institutionalized and institutionalized older people, i.e. we focus on the diversity of the residential context. Results confirm worse health conditions (dependence) and a fragile socio-family profile (more family dysfunctionality and less perceived social support) for institutionalized older person´s. In the light of these findings, it is necessary to change the policies and programmes of institutionalized elderly people, orient them towards successful aging and quality-of-life models.