| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.01 MB | Adobe PDF |
Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
No decorrer do envelhecimento existe uma maior propensão a desenvolver demências, sendo
umas das principais causas de dependência a nível mundial. Nesse campo, a doença de
Alzheimer destaca-se, pois é a mais comum e afeta cada vez mais pessoas em todo o mundo.
A perda progressiva de capacidades obriga a que alguém assuma os cuidados ao doente,
acabando por ser a família, na maior parte dos casos, a se encarregar destes.
O objetivo geral deste estudo foi compreender o impacto da doença de Alzheimer no contexto
familiar. Como estratégia de investigação foi utilizada uma abordagem qualitativa, realizando
um estudo de caso, com o propósito de atingir uma compreensão pormenorizada acerca da
singularidade do contexto em questão. O instrumento de recolha de dados foi a entrevista
semiestruturada, aplicada ao cuidador principal, membros da família, neurologista e médico
de família.
Os resultados obtidos sugerem existir dificuldades de várias dimensões por parte da família,
em especial do cuidador principal, ao lidar com a evolução da doença. Os depoimentos
indicam desgaste físico e mental, mudanças ocorridas nas funções e estrutura familiares,
restruturação da rede social, diminuição do orçamento disponível, alterações arquitetónicas,
défice de informação e apoio dos serviços sociais, comunitários e de saúde.
Com base nos resultados, conclui-se que a doença de Alzheimer tem um forte peso no
decréscimo da qualidade de vida do cuidador familiar, em grande medida, pela incapacidade
em lidar com uma simultaneidade de alterações no seu quotidiano, sendo geradoras de stress
e incerteza. Atendendo ao número de diagnósticos crescente, representando elevados custos
para as famílias cuidadoras, quer ao nível socioeconómico, quer ao nível de saúde física e
mental, conclui-se existirem lacunas ao nível dos serviços estatais por omissão de políticas
sociais e de saúde robustas, especificamente direcionadas e articuladas para munir o cuidador
familiar de ferramentas e meios adequados à minimização do impacto que a doença tem nas
famílias.
In the course of aging there is a greater propensy to develop dementia, being the one of the main causes of dependency worldwide. In this field, Alzheimer’s disease stands out because it’s the most common and affects more and more people in the world. The progressive loss of capabilities demands that someone takes care of the pacient, being the family, that in most of cases, takes care of them. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of Alzheimer’s disease in the family context. As an invetigation strategy, a qualitative approach was used, carrying out a case study, with de purpose of reaching a detailed understanding of the subject in question. The data collection tool was the semi-structured interview applied to the main caregiver, members of the family, neurologist and family doctor. The results obtained suggest that there are difficulties on the part of the family, especially of the main caregiver, when dealing with the evolution of the disease. The evidences indicate physical and mental wear, changes occurred in family roles and structures, social network restructuring, decreasing the available budget, architectural changes, lack of information and support from social, community and health services. Based on the results, it is concluded that Alzheimer’s disease has a strong influence on the decrease in the caregiver’s quality of life, largely due to the inability to deal with simultaneous changes in their daily lives, generating stress and uncertainties. Given the increasing number of diagnoses, representing high costs for caregiver families, both at the socioeconomical level and at the level of physical and mental health, it is concluded that there are gaps at the level of state services due to the omission of robust social and health policies specifically targeted and articulated to provide the family caregiver with adequate tools and means to minimize the impact that disease has on families.
In the course of aging there is a greater propensy to develop dementia, being the one of the main causes of dependency worldwide. In this field, Alzheimer’s disease stands out because it’s the most common and affects more and more people in the world. The progressive loss of capabilities demands that someone takes care of the pacient, being the family, that in most of cases, takes care of them. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of Alzheimer’s disease in the family context. As an invetigation strategy, a qualitative approach was used, carrying out a case study, with de purpose of reaching a detailed understanding of the subject in question. The data collection tool was the semi-structured interview applied to the main caregiver, members of the family, neurologist and family doctor. The results obtained suggest that there are difficulties on the part of the family, especially of the main caregiver, when dealing with the evolution of the disease. The evidences indicate physical and mental wear, changes occurred in family roles and structures, social network restructuring, decreasing the available budget, architectural changes, lack of information and support from social, community and health services. Based on the results, it is concluded that Alzheimer’s disease has a strong influence on the decrease in the caregiver’s quality of life, largely due to the inability to deal with simultaneous changes in their daily lives, generating stress and uncertainties. Given the increasing number of diagnoses, representing high costs for caregiver families, both at the socioeconomical level and at the level of physical and mental health, it is concluded that there are gaps at the level of state services due to the omission of robust social and health policies specifically targeted and articulated to provide the family caregiver with adequate tools and means to minimize the impact that disease has on families.
Description
Keywords
Demência Doença de Alzheimer Cuidadores familiares Qualidade de vida