RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CAREGIVERS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND OVERBURDEN OF CARE

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical profile of caregivers and their relationship with overburden of care of elderly people with dementia. Descriptive cross-sectional study, non-probability sample with 94 elderly people suffering with dementia, conducted at a Care Center for Elderly in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Data was collected from February to June 2016, through a questionnaire on sociodemographic aspects and Zarit Inventory. Forty-six (50%) caregivers had moderate overburden, 35 (38%) had little overburden and 11 (12%) moderate/severe overburden; 71 (77%) caregivers took 1 to 5 drugs and 20 (22%) took 6 to 11 drugs. The following trends were observed: individuals with lower income experienced higher levels of overburden; less experienced caregivers had moderate overburden; the greater the overburden of caregivers, the lower the average age of these individuals. Also, overburdened caregivers were in conditions of biological and psychological vulnerability.

Keywords

• Dementia
• Caregivers
• Family nusring
• Elderly
• Vulnerability