Objective: The aim of the article is to investigate the most severe problems aggravating the quality of life of people with rheumatism and to outline the role of support and assistance people with rheumatism receive from their family members/acquaintances in order to cope with their daily life. Methods: The article is based on the data and findings of the national sociological survey 'Chronic Rheumatic Patients 2006' carried out by the Rheumatic Association of Tallinn in the years 2005-2006 with the support from the Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia. Data were collected via a questionnaire from 808 respondents. Results: The respondents indicated their state of health and shortage of money as their most severe problems, followed by dysfunctional family relations, poor living conditions, loneliness, etc. The problems are more severe for the respondents who live alone and have been coping with illness for over 10 years. The assistance received from relatives/acquaintances to cope with daily life is more varied and thorough than that received from children. Assistance is mostly received occasionally. On average, every tenth respondent does not have anyone to turn to for assistance. Conclusion: Severe problems and stress symptoms display a cumulative effect -the occurrence of one aspect often triggers others. To break this vicious circle, people with rheumatism need assistance and support from the state as well as from their immediate environment.

The purpose of the study was to analyse the assessments of elderly people aged 65 and more about family caregiving as a factor influencing their quality of life and coping. The study is based on the project SUFACARE*'Supporting family carers and care receivers in Estonia and in Finland'*in the framework of which the Institute of Social Work of Tallinn University carried out postal surveys in 2010. The Estonian survey was conducted in Tallinn and Lääne-Viru County. The total number of respondents was 581 (70% female and 30% male), of whom 98 (n 074 female and n 024 male) were family caregivers. Caregiving has not influenced the physical and mental health of caregivers, the reason being that many people who receive care are not of very ill health or suffer from dementia. People mostly take care of their spouses. Based on the Estonian Family Law Act (RT I 2009, 60, 395), adult descendants are required to provide maintenance if their relatives are not able to care for themselves. Caregivers whose health is below average consider caring to be physically demanding. We cannot speak of the social isolation of respondents who have care duties*they communicate actively and do not feel lonely. Women report caregiving to be physically strenuous more often than men. The mental health of male caregivers is better*fewer male respondents claimed to feel unhappy or depressed compared to female respondents.Uurimuse eesmärgiks on analü ü sida vanuses 65 ja vanemate inimeste hinnanguid, kuidas omastehooldus mõ jutab nende elukvaliteeti ja igapäevast toimetulekut. Materjal põ hineb SUFACARE projekti ,,Omastehooldajate ja hooldatavate toetamine Eestis ja Soomes'' andmetele, mille raames Tallinna Ü likooli Sotsiaaltö ö Instituut viis aastal 2010 läbi postikü sitluse Tallinnas ja Lääne-Virumaal. Vastajate koguarv oli 581 (neist 70% naised ja 30% mehed), kelledest 98 olid omastehooldajad (n 074 naist ja n 024 meest). Hooldamine ei mõ jutanud omastehooldajate fü ü silist ega ka vaimset tervist. Põ hjus peitub selles, et paljud hooldatavad ei olnud väga haiged inimesed ega polnud ka dementsed. Hooldatavaks oli enamus juhtudel abikaasa võ i elukaaslane. Eesti Perekonnaseaduse (RT I 2009, 60, 395) kohaselt on täiskasvanud lapsed kohustatud tagama ü lalpidamise, kui nende vanemad ei ole võ imelised enda eest hoolitsema. Hooldajad, kelle tervis oli alla keskmise väitsid, et hooldamine on fü ü siliselt pingutav. Hoolduskoorumusega vastajate puhul ei saa rääkida nende sotsiaalsest isolatsioonist*nad suhtlevad aktiivselt ja ei tunne ennast ü ksikuna. Naised märgivad sagedamini, et hooldamine on fü ü siliselt raske. Meeshooldajate vaimne tervis on parem*võ rreldes naisvastajatega väidavad mehed harvem, et tunnevad õ nnetuna võ i on depressioonis.

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