Quality of life and social support of older adults caregivers and care recipients in high social vulnerability

Abstract

Objective to compare quality of life and social support between older adults caregivers and care recipients. Method observational, cross-sectional and quantitative study, carried out with 112 older adults registered in five Family Health Units in a context of high social vulnerability in a city in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. Sociodemographic, care and health variables, social support by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale and quality of life by the WHOQOL-bref and WHOQOL-old were evaluated. For data analysis, Pearson's Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney and Spearman's Correlation tests were used. Results There was a significant difference between the participants for material support (p=0.004) and physical domain of the quality of life scale (p=0.002). Older adults caregivers have lower material support scores and better perception of the physical domain of the quality of life scale when compared to care recipients. Furthermore, there was a direct and moderate correlation between quality of life and social support of older adults (p<0.001), that is, the higher the score on the social support scale, the higher the score on the quality of life scale. Conclusion adults caregivers presented lower material support scores and better perception of the physical domain of the quality of life scale compared to care receptors. Actions related to expanding the amount of significant relationships of caregivers can be useful for improving social support, with consequent improvement of the other aspects involved in quality of life.

Percepção da qualidade de vida de pessoas idosas de uma Estratégia Saúde da Família de uma cidade do norte de Minas Gerais

“…Um estudo realizado com 112 pessoas idosas cadastradas em cinco Unidades de Saúde, em contexto de alta vulnerabilidade social, em um município do interior paulista, Brasil, identificou que a percepção de saúde das pessoas idosas é atrelada a sentir-se bem e possuir apoio social, que se concretiza em suportes informais e afetivos, que possibilitam a promoção da saúde e QV às pessoas idosas 20 .…”

“…Apesar da estabilidade financeira apontada neste estudo, observa-se reclamações e sentimentos de melancolia relacionada a renda. De fato, uma menor renda pode impactar no cuidado em saúde, sobretudo entre aqueles com múltiplas morbidades, dependências, dificuldades de acesso à medicação e tratamentos, podendo ocasionar dependência financeira de uma rede de apoio informal, como os familiares 18,20 .…”