Social characteristics in principal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease causes high rates of disability and dependency in older people, leading them to require continuous care, mostly from a family member, who becomes their primary caregiver. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the principal caregivers of patients in mild or moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease. Method: A descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted on 81 caregivers of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease attending the Julio Antonio Mella Teaching Polyclinic in Guanabacoa during April and May 2018 and selected by intentional sampling. The social variables studied were: marital status, educational level, employment relationship, relationship with the patient, reason for caring and support received. A questionnaire was applied and the data were analyzed using absolute frequency distributions and percentages. Results: The results revealed that most caregivers were married (64.20%), with a pre-university education level (60.49%), without employment (61.70%), and were largely daughters of the patient (43.21%). Furthermore, 75.30% of caregivers provided care based on emotional ties and 71.60% received support to do so. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the role of primary caregiver is associated with significant biological, psychological, social and economic repercussions, hence the need to prepare the rest of the family to be involved in the care of the sick patient