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Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental
Print version ISSN 1647-2160
Abstract
BERMEJO, Laura Muñoz; CORDEIRO, Raul Alberto; CARVALHO, José Carlos and MOTA, Salvador Postigo. Emotional stress in elderly caregivers of the elderly. Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental [online]. 2018, n.spe6, pp.-30. ISSN 1647-2160. https://doi.org/10.19131/rpesm.0209.
BACKGROUND: Caregivers constitute a population at risk of psychic and physical alterations. Emotional disturbances, such as depression and anxiety, are under-diagnosed diseases in the caregiver. AIM: To know the support needs for elderly caregivers who care for the elderly as well as their association with emotional stress. METHODS: Study of quantitative observational, transversal and descriptive field. The sample is constituted by 107 elderly caregivers of elderly people, residents in the rural southwestern area of Badajoz Health Area of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura (Spain). The data collection was carried out through a structured questionnaire and the procedure applied was that of the survey. RESULTS: The average age of the elderly who perform the care is 76.9 years, slightly women predominate (59.8%) with respect to men (40.2%). 84.1% of care is carried out in marital relationships. 70.1% of elderly caregivers consider that they need help to perform the activities that require care. 31.8% requires help from specialized personnel due to emotional stress. There are statistically significant differences (p = .009) between people who need help and the risk of emotional disturbance of the caregiver. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly caregivers demand assistance to carry out the tasks of care. In addition, one third of caregivers require help from a specialist for emotional stress, and caregivers in need of help have a greater risk of emotional stress.
Keywords : Caregivers; Aged; Psychological stress; Mental health.