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Abstract(s)
O ato de cuidar de uma pessoa é, por si só, desafiador. No entanto, este ato constitui uma
problemática cada vez maior com o envelhecimento da população. Este contexto tem levado a um
aumento da incidência das Perturbações Neurocognitivas Major que cursam, inevitavelmente,
com um declínio cognitivo do doente, levando a quadros demenciais. Os quadros demenciais
encontram-se diretamente associados a necessidades de cuidados particularmente complexos, o
que torna o cuidador mais suscetível a um conjunto de problemas físicos e dificuldades mentais
relacionados com a atividade de prestação de cuidados, designado Caregiver Stress Syndrome.
O Caregiver Stress Syndrome resulta de um aumento crescente da carga sobre o cuidador, o que
está associado a consequências tanto para o cuidador, tais como uma maior prevalência de
depressão e ideação suicida, como para a própria pessoa que recebe cuidados, tais como o
agravamento dos sintomas comportamentais, maior suscetibilidade a comportamentos abusivos
e a possível institucionalização mais precoce.
O apoio ao cuidador tem sido um assunto cada vez mais estudado e existem já inúmeras
intervenções desenvolvidas globalmente com vista a melhorar o bem-estar dos cuidadores. Estas
intervenções devem ser, idealmente, individualizadas de modo a ir ao encontro das necessidades
do cuidador.
Em Portugal, já foi reconhecido o Estatuto do Cuidador Informal, onde são enumerados os
direitos e deveres dos cuidadores e as medidas de apoio existentes.
Na Covilhã, por ser um concelho significativamente envelhecido, a problemática dos cuidadores
informais é de particular importância. Assim, este trabalho apresenta a proposta de um plano de
intervenção com vista a caracterizar os cuidadores informais desta região, conhecer as suas reais
necessidades de forma a poder desenvolver um conjunto de medidas adequadas às necessidades
destas pessoas.
The act of caring for a person is challenging in itself. However, this act is becoming increasingly problematic as the population ages. This context has led to an increase in the incidence of Major Neurocognitive Disorders, which inevitably lead to cognitive decline in the patient, leading to dementia. Dementia is directly associated with particularly complex care needs, which makes the caregiver more susceptible to a set of physical problems and mental difficulties related to the care activity, known as Caregiver Stress Syndrome. Caregiver Stress Syndrome results from an increasing burden on the caregiver, which is associated with consequences both for the caregiver, such as a higher prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation, and for the person receiving care, such as worsening behavioural symptoms, greater susceptibility to abusive behaviour and possible earlier institutionalization. Caregiver support has been an increasingly studied subject and there are already numerous interventions developed globally to improve the well-being of caregivers. These interventions should ideally be individualized to meet the needs of the caregiver. In Portugal, the Statute of the Informal Caregiver has already been recognized, which lists the rights and duties of caregivers and the existing support measures. In Covilhã, as it is a significantly aged municipality, the problem of informal caregivers is of particular importance. Therefore, this work presents a proposal for an intervention plan to characterize informal caregivers in this region, to find out their real needs in order to be able to develop a set of measures tailored to the needs of these people.
The act of caring for a person is challenging in itself. However, this act is becoming increasingly problematic as the population ages. This context has led to an increase in the incidence of Major Neurocognitive Disorders, which inevitably lead to cognitive decline in the patient, leading to dementia. Dementia is directly associated with particularly complex care needs, which makes the caregiver more susceptible to a set of physical problems and mental difficulties related to the care activity, known as Caregiver Stress Syndrome. Caregiver Stress Syndrome results from an increasing burden on the caregiver, which is associated with consequences both for the caregiver, such as a higher prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation, and for the person receiving care, such as worsening behavioural symptoms, greater susceptibility to abusive behaviour and possible earlier institutionalization. Caregiver support has been an increasingly studied subject and there are already numerous interventions developed globally to improve the well-being of caregivers. These interventions should ideally be individualized to meet the needs of the caregiver. In Portugal, the Statute of the Informal Caregiver has already been recognized, which lists the rights and duties of caregivers and the existing support measures. In Covilhã, as it is a significantly aged municipality, the problem of informal caregivers is of particular importance. Therefore, this work presents a proposal for an intervention plan to characterize informal caregivers in this region, to find out their real needs in order to be able to develop a set of measures tailored to the needs of these people.
Description
Keywords
Caregiver Stress Syndrome Cuidador Informal Demência Doenças Neurocognitivas