Lifestyle Associated with Caregiver Burden of the Elderly

Abstract

Objective: Analyze the relationship between lifestyle and level of caregiver burden of older adults with chronic illness.Material and Method: quantitative, observational, descriptive, transversal study. The sample consisted of 57 caregivers of elderly or dependent adults with chronic disease. The sampling was non-probabilistic for convenience.Results: It was found that caregivers with greater burden were 14.03% (n = 9), mild overload the 14.03% (n = 9), without overloading the 71.92% (n = 43). Rates lifestyle of caregivers of elderly ranged between 24.85 and 62.31%, the lowest rate was obtained by the exercise dimension and the highest rate was personal growth.Discussion: These data are different from those reported by Alducin, et al., who reported that the dimension with the lowest score was responsibility for health and greater personal growth with 28.3 and 41.2 respectively. Dimensions deficiency responsibility in health, stress management and exercise contribute to the lifestyle of elderly caregiver disease-oriented rather than promoting health. Conclusion:In the study they prevailed without overloading caregivers, followed by caregivers with intense overload which poses a possible relationship with the dimensions of lifestyle that are smaller dimension; stress management and lack of exercise performance.