Functional dependency of older individuals and caregiver burden

Abstract

This study investigated the functional dependency of aged individuals and caregiver burden. This epidemiological and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 with 574 aged individuals and 124 caregivers in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, using the following instruments: Functional Independency Measure (FIM) and Zarit Burden Interview. Among the elderly, most (67.8%) were women with a mean age of 76.6 years, with a low educational level (54.7%) and an average monthly per capita income of R$942.20. Only 15.7% were identified as being dependent. Regarding the caregivers, 85.6% were women with a mean age of 56.5 years; 90.3% were family caregivers (daughters, wives), and the mean burden score was 27.8 (±17.5). The dependency of the aged individuals was a risk factor for caregiver burden (p<0.05). Preventive actions and early intervention should be priority for this population. The following are necessary: surveillance by a multidisciplinary health team, the application of instruments to assess the extent to which functionality is compromised and interventions to prevent caregiver burden.