Introduction: the demands for goods and services aimed at the health needs of the elderly require a different perspective that considers the human being in all its dimensions: biopsychosocial and spiritual. Objective: to reflect on the assistance strategies that impact comprehensive care for the elderly, based on public health policies. Methodology: reflective essay that contextualizes comprehensive care for the elderly. Results: the content is presented in four sections: "Population aging in Brazil" "Public Health Policies: a brief historical recovery"; "Comprehensiveness in health care: practices and challenges" and, finally, "Training to work in the health of the elderly and communication strategies". Conclusion: it is clear that different care strategies, including verbal and non-verbal communication, contribute to greater comprehensiveness and humanization in the care of the elderly. It also appears that public health policies depend on intersectoral integration to provide care for the elderly in a holistic way.