[Hospital escort program for the geriatric patient]. / Programa de acompanhante hospitalar para paciente geriátrico.

It is presented a report of nine years of experience with the Hospital Escort Program for geriatric patients, carried out by nurses of a University Hospital (UFSC), at the Medical Unit II, since 1993. The goal is to integrate the family that cares for the elderly patient, bringing them to the hospital as a Nursing partner or client. The program also seeks to give psychosocial support to the patients; to enhance the escort's skills to care for the elderly on their daily activities and also on specific health tasks after hospital discharge; to develop healthy life practices within the family, which had shown appreciation and recognition to the program.