Evaluation of elderly care dynamics in an emergency care unit.

Objective: understand elderly care dynamics of an emergency care unit.

Method: this is a case study evaluation, using a qualitative approach and the theoretical-methodological reference of a fourth generation evaluation. Data collection was conducted between February and September 2017, through 460 hours of participant observation, interviews with 33 social actors among health professionals, elderly people and their relatives of an emergency care unit located in a municipality in the northwest of Paraná, as well as negotiation meetings with participants.

Results: the evaluation showed the elderly care dynamics is mainly influenced by nursing actions that articulate care practices based on priority, frailty, autonomy, independence and family context of the elderly patients.

Final Considerations: an evaluation of how the emergency care unit operates helps improve elderly care in urgent and emergency services.