Cuidado; Cuidador principal; Síndrome Demencial.

Abstract

The aging process causes the individual physiologic-functional changes, with increased demand for care, due to limitations and loss of functional capacity. There is an increase in chronic-degenerative diseases, such as dementias, characterized by syndromes of diverse etiologies, whose fundamental aspect is memory impairment, and of at least one other cognitive function (language, praxia, gnosis or executive functions), compromising the occupational or social functioning, representing functional decline. The greater the dependence of an individual, the greater the burden on the caregiver; hence, it is important to consider the overload as an aspect worthy of detailed investigation to guide an intervention that assists in the caring process. This study aims to verify if there is an association between the level of overload and the socio-demographic, clinical and psycho-cognitive variables of caregivers and elderly patients with Demential Syndrome. This is an analytical, cross-sectional study with convenience sample, with 20 elderly caregivers with DS. It was concluded that the highest levels of overload are in caregivers of elderly with DS and pulmonary disease, not married life, female, associated with irritability and degree of kinship with demented; the children, with the highest levels. Reduced overload in caregivers who practiced physical activity and without a history of falls.