Self-care profiles of the elderly institutionalized in Elderly Care Centres

The concept of self-care in the elderly has been frequently associated with autonomy, independence and personal accountability. Self-care practices are a result of individual lifestyles and paths adapted to the circumstances and expectations of the elderly. Based on the model by Backman and Hentinen (1999), the present study attempts to categorically describe the types of self-care of the elderly. This is an exploratory study, transversal, of a quantitative nature. The sample was comprised of 313 participants, randomly selected among Elderly Care Centres in the interior North of Portugal. The Portuguese version of Self-care of Home Dwelling Elderly was used for data collection. The results call for a replication of the study, using the theoretical derivation of the four self-care profiles (responsible, formally guided, independent and abandoned).