Convivência familiar com o idoso acometido pela doença de alzheimer: estudo de caso / Family living with elderly sufferers of Alzheimers Disease: a case study

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

It consists of a case study of two cases that aims to comprehend the way that families live and cope with elderly sufferers of Alzheimers disease (AD) through the investigation of the family characteristics, the way the diagnostic was perceived and understood by them, their level of information about the disease, received support and the way they cope with the situation. Eleven family members of 2 elderly were interviewed: 05 from case 1 (José) who suffers from AD for 6 years and uses the public health service; 06 from case 2 (Maria) who suffers from AD for 12 years and uses the private health service. The interview schedule comprised of orientating questions about the patient, the family, the care given and the daily life with the ill. The interviewees speeches were analysed through the Content Analysis Method and the Thematic Analysis technique. The themes found were: family relations, health assistance, care given, changes, coping and support need. It was observed that family members are submitted to physical, psychological and emotional strains; the care of the sick is mainly given by women and is related to the sick physiological needs; the main observed changes in the family life occurred in their routine, in their roles and sleep patterns. Given the levels of schooling and knowledge about the disease, family members were capable of understanding the diagnostics and such information about the disease was given by health professionals. The received support consists of: mutual help in between family members and the aid of informal contracted carers who are not health professionals and do not belong to the family but have an emotional bond. Coping with the difficult situation of living with the ill is overcome by faith in God. The main support needs are: information supply to the family members and general public; creation of discussion channels for the subject; early identification of disease by laypeople so they can reach professional help. It was concluded that family members must be treated by the health services as clients since they also become ill due to the strains of living and coping with the elderly sufferers of Alzheimers disease.

ASSUNTO(S)

saude coletiva doença de alzheimer elderly alzheimers disease convivência familiares living family idoso família family members

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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