The care in Alzheimer's disease: social representations of family caregivers

Abstract

This study deals with the representations of family caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer considering care under the light of the Social Representations Theory. It aims to observe and identify the represen tations of family caregivers about care and analyze how they influence their care practices. This study is exploratory, empirical, quantitative and qualita tive, using as a method of research the Discourse of the Collective Subject. Participants were 21 family caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer, 24% men and 76% women, aged 32-69 years. About the support of the family, 57% of them reported having help from relatives in caring for the elderly and 42% did not have any help. About the income, 24% said it was comfortable, 63% said it was reasonable. About the help of professionals, 63% said they did not have any help at home, 38% had help, but mostly related to domestic services. The following social repre sentations emerged: the care as prison; the care as mission; the care as disharmony of social identities and the care as gratitude. Representations linked to the ideas of prison and disharmony of social identity add anxiety, stress and insecurity of life of caregiv ers. This study found representations about the care of which at least two represented negative as sociations, comparing care with ideas of prison and disharmony of social identity. It was not possible to reach directly its repercussions on the care practice due to the absence of the care routine observation.