Introduction:

The palliative care is an important part of the attention to the terminal elderly patient; whatever their cause.

Objective:

To know the number and characteristics of nononcological palliative patients included in a Geriatric Attendance program during the one-year period.

Methodology:

Descriptive and retrospective study. Target population: All patients included in a Geriatric Attendance program during the one-year period. Inclusion criteria: Patients aged ≥75 in palliative care, with nononcological pathologies.

Results:

Sample: 25 elders; Mean age: 84.92 years; 56% women. Pathologies: Cardio-respiratory diseases 36%, neurological 36% and other 28%. Degree of functionality; Mean Barthel index at admission 26.8 and mean at high 16. Norton scale: Moderate risk of pressure ulcers at admission and high to high risk. Signs and symptoms: A total of 20 were analyzed, with a mean of 6.72 per patient at admission and 6.92 at discharge. Follow-up of patients with an average of 41.4 days. Mean of nursing visits of days. Primary caregiver and social aspects: 84% women; 68% children. Reason for discharge: Exit in own environment with 68% of the total of the patients.

Conclusions:

The needs of patients with non-oncological pathologies are similar to those of advanced cancer patients. There is a high shortage of this type of care and the large percentage of the population that is excluded due to the lack of knowledge about this type of patients. It shows the need to create teams and programs that contemplate this type of patients, given their importance.

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