Vivências de cuidadores familiares de idosos

Abstract

Population aging and longevity are widely discussed today, as people become more dependent and age-specific comorbidities in this stage of life. Family caregivers are the first to provide care for the elderly and to monitor the progression of needs over time. Objective: To analyze the experiences of family caregivers in the health of the elderly in caring. Methodology: It is a qualitative, descriptive, field research in a health reference center for the elderly in the city of Salvador, Bahia. Results: The profile of the caregivers interviewed was between 30 and 57 years of age, of both sexes and most of them children with complete secondary education. The categories analyzed were: activities carried out in the daily care and difficulties encountered by the family caregiver in caring. Conclusion: Routine and constant activities, without help from other families, overwhelm family caregivers and prevent them from leading a life with independence and autonomy. This worsens as older caregivers age and become more independent.