Cuidadores informais: principais dificuldades e receios no ato de cuidar

Abstract

The increase in average life expectancy, the prevalence of chronic diseases and the lack of health support services and infrastructures, have led to an increasingly urgent need for informal caregivers. The provision of informal care affects the lives of caregivers, so determining their main difficulties can improve both the quality of life of caregivers and those cared for. This qualitative study of a phenomenological type aims to explore the main difficulties that the informal caregiver feels in the task of caring, the fear and the type of accidents. A total of 19 informal caregivers (15 women and 4 men), aged between 27 and 81 years old, were interviewed, based on a semistructured script. The results allow us to observe that most accidents are related to falls in the handling of the person. In terms of difficulties experienced by caregivers, they reported difficulties in caring for the person associated with a lack of information and support. Participants also report feeling lack of time for their personal activities. This study allowed a better understanding of some of the problems and difficulties that informal caregivers face in the care activity. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]