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

Abstract

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.