Cuidados de enfermería al cuidador familiar de personas dependientes.

Abstract

Introduction: Woman has been the one who has always been responsible for the care of dependent people. Nowadays, due to the increase in the number of dependents and the inclusion of women in the workplace, performing that role has become more complicated. Description: Information has been obtained from several official WebPages, magazines and related database during a six-month period (November 2015 to February 2016). Conclusions: The usual profile of the family caregiver is a woman, middle-aged, without paid work, with low education and first-degree relative of the dependent person. The perception of care is not the same for caregivers than for professionals. The most widely used method to assess caregiver’s overload is Zarit burden interview. Caring involves a series of both positive and negative consequences for the quality of life and health of the caregiver. Nurses can help caregivers by health education on how to care for herself and how to take care of the dependent person, or through consultation by phone or home care. There are several types of resources available to caregivers, including the Dependency Act since 2006. Overload levels of family caregiver vary depending on the place of residence. The resources targeted to caregivers have increased, although they are still inadequate, not reaching all caregivers alike.