Repercussões na família de baixa renda diante do diagnóstico de Alzheimer na perspectiva do (a) cuidador (a) informal.

Abstract

This research aimed to understand the repercussions on low-income families in face of an older adult family member with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), from the perspective of the caregiver. Specifically, it aimed to: (a) Characterize the perception of the family caregiver regarding AD; (b) Understand the possible changes and reactions that occur within the family; (c) Identify the feelings and needs experienced by the family caregiver during the monitoring of this older adult; (d) Analyze coping strategies in view of the need for constant care of patients with AD. This is a qualitative research that used the systemic approach as a theoretical framework. The research participants were six women and one man, all family caregivers of elder women, aged between 25 and 76 years, living in the metropolitan region of Recife. The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview script. The main results showed that: 1) most caregivers had the conception that AD is progressive and mainly alters memory; 2) the initial reactions were of confusion because they did not understand what was happening, with two caregivers already having previous experience of caring; little by little, the family was adapting; 3) the feelings elicited were anguish, fear, sadness and anticipatory grief and the need for technical support, as well as better financial condition; 4) the strategies they used to deal with the disease encompassed the search for information; family and neighbor support; try to adapt to the patient and provide activities they enjoy, such as playing games, playing with their great -granddaughter, listening to music and dancing. It is important to create public policies that enable support for caregivers in order to provide an adequate place for low-income older adults with AD, especially during the caregivers' working hours, as well as guide and strengthen family members for the responsibility of care.