Ser cuidador domiciliar: cotidiano de trabalho e impactos na saúde do trabalhador

Abstract

The home caregiver is responsible for ensuring the health and well-being of the dependent person due to physical or mental limitations, presence of chronic diseases, frailty resulting from aging. It supports health care and personal hygiene, food, locomotion and other activities of daily living. Home care has been performed by family members and hired professionals. Although the number of caregivers is high, the exercise of work in the home space has contributed to the invisibility of the health demands of these professionals. The present study aimed to understand the work dynamics of caregivers in the home context and understand their perceptions about the impacts of work on their health. Descriptive and with a qualitative approach, the study was developed in a territory served by a Basic Health Unit in a municipality in the interior of Minas Gerais. Family and professional caregivers granted semi-structured interviews. Thematic content analysis guided the data treatment. The results showed that, in most cases, care is performed by women. Caregivers experience, in the exercise of their work, situations that lead to physical, psychological and emotional overload. Work as a caregiver can interfere with the caregiver's social life, generating isolation, in addition to health demands. The study highlighted the need to approach the caregiver's health by public health services, especially in primary care. Comprehensive actions involving the health of dependent people and their caregivers can be developed in the home context.