[Care for the elderly who depend on receiving care or bet on their independence?].

At the present time, the social-sanitary system in our country places great emphasis on the attention and care which the elderly who depend on aid receive. This reality, basically implies a type curative care which does not correspond to the principles of the reform philosophy in primary health care which claims that most developed functions and the focus of health center activities should be promoting better health and the prevention of diseases and their complications. On the other hand, once a patient has been placed on dependence care, little remains to be done to improve it. Therefore, it is logical to question if it would not be more beneficial to concentrate health care efforts and treatment to maintain and increase a patient's independence throughout his/her lifetime.