Abstract

MELO, Ricardo Manuel da Costa; RUA, Marília dos Santos  and  SANTOS, Célia Samarina Vilaça de Brito. Family caregiver’s needs in caring for the dependent person: an integrative literature review. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2014, vol.serIV, n.2, pp.143-151. ISSN 0874-0283.  https://doi.org/10.12707/RIV14003.

Background: Population ageing and dependency increase require a growing need of home-based care to be provided by family members. Objectives: To determine what are the main needs expressed by family caregivers in caring for the dependent person by performing a literature review. Methodology: Search in both national and international electronic databases, using specific search engines. A total of 516 scientific studies were initially obtained. After an analysis according to inclusion criteria, a total of 21 papers were selected. Results: The obtained scientific evidence highlights certain needs, which were divided according to the Transitions Theory: community and societal resources, knowledge and preparation, personal meaning, beliefs and attitudes, and socioeconomic status. Conclusion: We can conclude that the correct diagnosis of family caregivers’ needs is essential for an effective planning of nursing interventions, which can be translated into health gains both for the caregiver and the patient.

Keywords : family caregivers; needs assessment; family; frail elderly.

        · abstract in Portuguese | Spanish     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )