Avaliação da saúde de cuidadores de idosos em seus domicílios

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have revealed that care for the elderly in the home is complex and can generate burden to the caregiver. Thus, there is great importance in evaluating the variables associated with the burden in these caregivers, since the quality of life of the caregiver and the quality of care for the elderly depend on the physical and emotional health of the caregiver. Objectives: Evaluate the impact that care activities have on the life of the caregiver, correlating with the level of independence of the elderly and with social support. Methods: 80 caregivers of older adults were visited at their homes by the researchers for data collection. The Zarit Burden Interview scale was used to evaluate the caregiver’s overburden and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), to evaluate the level of elderly dependence, as well as other instruments developed by the researchers to characterize the elderly caregiver, analyzing quantitatively the result. Results: There was a correlation between the Degree of Overburden and the motor (rs = -0.35, P = 0.002) and total (rs = -0.34, P = 0.002) FIM, and the number of hours spent for the elderly care (rs = 0.34, P = 0.002). As for the caregivers, they are predominant daughters of the elderly, mean age of 54.65 ± 10.68 years old and moderate degree burden. Among the elderly, the predominance was female, mean age of 77.40 ± 10.70 years old and modified dependency level I. Conclusions: It is concluded that the degree of burden caregivers of the elderly increases as the level of dependence of the elderly increases. Thus, it is fundamental to create programs aimed to caregivers with the goal of promoting their self-care and preventing or reducing the overburden caused by caregiving.