VALORACIÓN GERIÁTRICA SOCIAL Y FUNCIONAL DE LOS ADULTOS MAYORES USUARIOS EXTERNOS DE UN CENTRO GERONTOLÓGICO EN ECUADOR.

Abstract

The following study on the "Social and Functional Geriatric Assessment of Elderly Outpatients at a Gerontological Center in Ecuador" aimed to comprehensively evaluate the social and functional status of older adults attending the Gerontological Center as outpatients during the April-August 2024 period. The comprehensive geriatric assessment, framed in this context, is seen as an essential tool for the early detection of needs in the elderly population, enabling the identification of both physical and social risk factors that influence their quality of life and well-being. The research followed an observational and exploratory approach, supported by a descriptive design that allowed for the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. Standardized social and functional assessment scales were employed to gather information. The study population

consisted of 35 individuals over 65 years old, of whom 25 were men and 10 were women.

The results showed that the vast majority of older adults presented varying degrees of

functional dependency, with 54% showing moderate dependency and 63% showing moderate impairments according to the Barthel Scale and the Katz Index, respectively. Furthermore, the social assessment revealed that 57% of the users were at high social risk, correlating with a high prevalence of family dysfunction, particularly among women. This