A influência do declínio funcional de idosos com demência na sobrecarga e qualidade de vida dos cuidadores

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyse the influence of the functional decline of elderly patients with dementia in the burden and the quality of life of their caregivers. This is a cross sectional study with descriptive and analytical approach, carried out in three reference services in elderly care and / or caregiver in the city of Maceió, Alagoas. The sample consisted of 170 individuals, 85 pairs of caregiver / elder, and the elderly diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers. Data were collected through interviews with the application of validated scales. We evaluated the burden and quality of life of the caregiver using the Zarit Burden Interview, and WHOQOLBREF quality of life assessment, respectively, cognitive status and functional capacity of older people with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale and the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Among seniors, there was predominance of females (70.6%) with average age of 79.9 (± 8.92), widowed (50.6%), educational level between one and four years study (34.1%) and per capita income below the poverty level (57.6%). The higher prevalence of dementia was Alzheimer's type (88.2%), mostly classified as severe dementia by CDR (56.5%) and dependence of six activities of daily living measured by the Katz Index (44.7%). As for caregivers, female sex (88.2%) with average age of 51.9 (± 12.0), married (55.3%), educational level over nine years of study (77,6%) and per capita income below the poverty (43.6%). The evidence showed an average burden of 35.2 (± 12.3). The highest average quality of life was found in the physical domain and the lowest in the environment. It was found statistically significant relationship between functional capacity and burden. Statistically significant inverse correlation was seen between burden and quality of life. These research findings suggest that functional decline of elderly with dementia showed an influence on the main caregiver’s burden, which was identified more burden with intermediate levels of dementia.