Carga de cuidado de los cuidadores familiares y nivel de dependencia de su familiar

Abstract

Introduction: Changes in healthcare systems, in addition to chronic illness, terminal processes, old age, and survival of people with comorbidities, physical or mental disabilities, have transferred care to families and family caregivers. Objective: To determine the burden of care on family caregivers and the level of functional dependency or chronic illness of their family member. Method: Quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in the city of Medellin (Colombia) from November 2017 to September 2019. The sample was comprised of 494 people, as appropriate. The Zarit and Pulses instruments were applied, and sociodemographic variables were taken into account. Data were analyzed with the SPSS version 25 program. Measures of centrality and dispersion were applied to the quantitative variables. Frequencies were analyzed for qualitative variables. Results: 89.7% of the sample are female, with a mean age of 53.5 years; 39% are single; 75.6% studied until high school; 83.1% are in charge of household tasks and have been a caregiver for 8.6 years, and 87.9% are the main caregiver, with problems of the cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. For 29.4% of the participants, the burden is severe, followed by moderate, and the level of dependency of the person they care for is severe in 71% of the cases. Conclusions: In our environment, the majority of caregivers are single women, housekeepers, and take care of a relative (father, son). The overload of care is excessive because they care for people with severe dependency.