Background:

The family is the main resource of patients, and family members take on the role of family caregivers.

Objective:

To identify the variables influencing the impact of a neurocognitive disorder (NCD) on family members and characterize the caregivers of people living with a NCD.

Methodology:

Quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study with a sample of 262 family members of people living with a NCD.

Results:

Caregivers revealed an association between the emotional dimension (r = 0.526; n = 102; p < 0.01), economic dimension (r = 0.292; n = 102; p < 0.01), support-seeking (r = 0.279; n = 102; p < 0.01), the healthcare-seeking dimension (r = 0.375; n = 102; p < 0.01) and a higher perceived burden. Among family members, the greater the impact of perceived family relations, the greater the perceived social support (r = 0.219; n = 104; p < 0.05); the greater the emotional impact, the greater the need to seek support (r = 0.303; n = 104; p < 0.01); and the greater the perceived impact on the economic dimension, the greater the need to seek support (r = 0.319; n = 104; p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

The family’s functioning, the patient’s level of dependence, the education level, the gender, and the degree of kinship seem to influence family adaptation.

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