Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on public health, economic growth and social development. In people, these effects are reflected in the health and economic situation, particularly in the elderly.

Objective:

To characterize health care during the COVD-19 pandemic in the elderly at the San Francisco health center in the city of Tulcán, Ecuador.

Method:

An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with qualitative-quantitative techniques. The population made up of 28 older adults from the San Francisco Health Center, city of Tulcán, Ecuador. The variables used were about the care provided by health personnel to the elderly. The data obtained together with the experience of the authors allowed triangulating the results and writing the final report of the research.

Results:

75% of the respondents received guidance on measures for prevention and the importance of care; 67.8% indicated that they did not receive timely attention to the demand, 92.8% evaluated the communication as adequate; 45% received monthly care; 50% did not receive psychological care.

Conclusions:

COVID-19 constitutes an inconvenience for adequate health care in older adults. Multidisciplinary, comprehensive, integrated and centered care for older people in primary health care is needed. They need more support due to their vulnerability and comorbidities. Adequate home care is effective in preventing the disease and therefore its complications.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )