PRIMARY CARE AND DEMENTIA IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION

Introduction and objective: Medical education in Brazil has been adapting to the new National Curriculum Guidelines aiming to strengthen the teaching-service-community (BRAZIL, 2014). In the process of teaching and learning, medical school academics from the University of Rio Verde (UNIRV) Campus Aparecida de Goiania carried a survey on Primary Care in Aparecida de Goiania. A high prevalence of elders with low performance on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was identified. The aim of this study is to report the experiences and challenges of medical Education when identifying dementia disorders in elderly communities. Methodology: In November 2015, the 3rd term students of UNIRV Medical School, Campus Aparecida de Goiania, carried an educational activity focused on the aged population assisted by the Jardim Olympico FHBU. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) performed included the analysis of the cognitive capacity of these elderly through the MMSE, respecting the extent of the limitations of school education of the patients. Results and Conclusion: From the 36 elderly interviewed, 14 were below the cutoff point code for their schooling. In some cases, the caregivers were surprised and even upset with the results they achieved on their elderly tests. It is necessary to empower the Community Health Agents and the whole team of Family Health Care to guide caregivers in the early identification of cognitive decline, because dementia is not always noticeable at its inception, considering that the greatest barrier that prevents caregivers to give necessary support to the elderly is the lack of information. (NOVELLI, 2010)