Quality of life of family members/caregivers of elderly people bearing alzheimer’s disease: support group contributions

Abstract

<jats:p>Objective: The study’s main purpose has been to analyze the QOL of family members/caregivers of elderly people bearing Alzheimer's disease, as well as to assess during this process the influence of the group named Integrated Multidisciplinary Assistance to Caregivers of people bearing Alzheimer's disease (IMACA). Methods: It is a descriptive-exploratory study with a qualitative approach that was performed with six family members/caregivers, who were participants in the aforementioned group. Data collection took place from April to May 2016, through data sharing between the focus group, semi-structured questionnaire and the assessment of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) for quality of life. Results: The independent data were subjected to content analysis resulting in two categories, as follows: IMACA group: sharing knowledge and experiences in favor of the quality of life; IMACA group: (re)thinking about everyday life, helping with the quality of life. By analyzing the SF-36 evaluation scale, the found objective data pointed out the following factors as the most impaired ones: Limitations due to physical, emotional and vital aspects. Conclusions: It was possible to observe that the Integrated Multidisciplinary Assistance to Caregivers of people bearing Alzheimer's disease has shown significant relevance and influence on the participating family members’/caregivers’ quality of life.</jats:p>

Awareness raising workshop for nursing students on the elderly with Alzheimer’s disease: contributions to education

“…Including participation in support groups, use of badges and bracelets with family members' contact, as well as naming rooms and objects in the home to facilitate their identification by the elderly with AD. Such data confirm other studies that present support groups as enhancers of care for family members/caregivers, as they assist in the production of knowledge and care for the elderly with AD (24)(25) .…”

“…The groups represent support, security, knowledge, and support, which provides greater comfort to face the adversities imposed by daily care (25) . The use of badges and bracelets with family members' contact was also a strategy evidenced in a study developed with professors of health courses at a higher education institution in the Rio Grande do Sul (2) .…”

Cuidador Familiar de Idoso com Doença de Alzheimer: uma revisão integrativa

“…Conclui-se que a assunção da responsabilidade pelo cuidado do idoso com doença de alzheimer resulta implicações, como as econômicas, no cotidiano do cuidador familiar e do idoso cuidado, em virtude da dedicação exclusiva , desemprego e ausência de outra pessoa para assumir o cuidado. Oliveira, Maziero, Buriol, Rosa & Ilha, 2020 Evidenciou-se que a qualidade de vida dos familiares/cuidadores participantes encontrava-se alterada em alguns aspectos, principalmente aos físicos e emocionais como pode ser observado na avaliação. Sendo assim fica claro a necessidadede mais projetos que promovam um olhar atento não só as pessoas idosas com DA, mas também aos familiares/cuidadores de forma a inseri-los em programas de atenção a saúde.…”