Perceptions of informal caregivers about daily experience in caring for the dependent elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Caring for older and dependent adults at home is an increasingly pressing reality that involves the current demographically aged society. Goals: This study aims to investigate the perceptions of informal caregivers on their daily experience in caring for dependent elderly. Methods: A qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted. The non-probabilistic sample, constituted from the Snowball strategy, consists of ten informal caregivers of dependent elderly, living in a Portuguese island context. Data collection took place in December 2020 and January 2021. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire survey sent to participants by e-mail due to the constraints associated with COVID-19. The data were studied according to content analysis. Results: According to participants he assumption of the role of caregiver is due to factors inherent to the elderly, namely health status, rejection of institutionalization or related to the caregiver. These further encompass factors such as duty and obligation, gratitude or retribution, financial dependence, kinship, gender, physical and affective proximity, marital status, employment situation, respect for the will of the elderly, and others factors associated with the family, family tradition or absence of another answer. The main care lies between meeting and satisfying basic human needs. The elderly benefit from humanized care, in their own home, in a relationship of trust and affection. State home support, reconciliation of professional and caregiver life, financial difficulty, collaboration, psychological support and importance of health education are required. Conclusions: The results suggest that caring for the dependent elderly at home is an imperative of contemporary society that strongly impacts the life of the informal caregiver, hence the need for the creation, development and implementation of health policies, and educational programs aimed at the dependent elderly and informal caregiver dyad.