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OBJECTIVE: To present the geographical distribution and profile of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) for older adults in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHOD: Data collection was based on secondary sources from five institutions and government departments, followed by an electronic search on websites and blogs, phone calls, and/or on-site visits. A descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the facilities was performed, as well as georeferencing and spatial analysis of Belo Horizonte’s LTCFs. The sample consisted of 156 LTCFs in 21 municipalities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were philanthropic facilities in all the mapped places, and 12 municipalities with smaller populations had only one facility each. There was no record of public facilities. Private LTCFs prevail in large municipalities, which are characterized by an accelerated growth of social facilities. The spatial distribution analysis, compared with the Belo Horizonte’s urban life quality index, allowed the discussion of availability of services according to the location of social facilities and the needs of the population, a topic not yet addressed by the municipalities.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate the association between social capital and the use of health services among Brazilian non-institutionalized older adults living in an urban metropolitan area. METHODS: The sample was comprised of 2,052 respondents aged 60 or older. Individual Social Capital was measured by The World Bank Integrated Questionnaire (IQ-MSC) dichotomized in “low” and “high” social Capital. Use of health services, community engagement, familiar functionality, and social demographics were assessed. RESULTS: Individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 73% more likely to have a medical appointment in the 6 months previous to the interview [OR = 1.76; 95%CI 1.19–2.52] compared to the high social capital group. In the opposite direction, individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 29% less likely to have a dental appointment regularly [OR = 0.71; 95%CI 0.51–0.98], were 88% less likely to be engaged in community projects [OR = 0.12; 95%CI 0.09–0.15], and 42% less likely to have a good familiar functionality [OR = 0.58; 95%CI 0.37–0.88], compared to the older adults who had high levels of social capital. Conclusion: Individual low social capital affected the pattern that older adults used health services in the investigated population differently.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the presence of depressive symptoms and its association with self-rated health among older adults living in Long-term Care Facilities. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study in which older adults living in LTCF were screened by using the Mental State Mini Exam. Standard questionnaires were used to collect the following data: 1) sociodemographic variables, 2) depressive symptoms, and 3) self-rated health. The descriptive statistical analysis by measures of central tendency and dispersion was performed to characterize the sample. The multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to associate the variables. In all tests, the alpha value of 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: A total of 127 older adults living in 47 long-term care facilities were evaluated. Among those who presented depressive symptoms, 32.3% were classified as having mild symptoms and 13.4% had severe symptoms. Regarding self-rated health, 46.5% considered it poor/very poor. In the analysis of the association between mild and severe depressive symptoms and self-rated health, statistical significance (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively) was found. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that more attention should be directed to older adults living in LTCF who have symptoms of depression and to their impacts on the negative self-rated health.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged society, especially residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF). This study investigated rates of infection, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19 among LTCF residents and staff in Minas Gerais, Brazil and identified strategies to control the spread of the disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 164 LTCF (6017 older adults). The owners or managers were invited to answer an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire included 55 items, divided into 3 sections. Results: Of the participating LTCF, 48.7%, 39.6%, and 32.3% reported COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, respectively, among residents, while 68.9%, 7.3%, and 1.2% reported COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, respectively, among staff. Preventive measures were identified and classified as organizational, infrastructural, hygiene items/personal protective equipment, and staff training. Conclusion: The strategies used in the daily routines of LTCF during the pandemic were classified. The challenges experienced in Brazilian facilities were similar to those observed worldwide. The results highlight the importance of continuity and the need to improve protective measures for LTCF residents, especially in low- and middle-income countries.