Family dynamics in face of Alzheimer's in one of its members

Abstract

Objective:To understand the family dynamics when there is a member in the residence with Alzheimer's disease. Method: A study of qualitative approach, using the creative sensitive method (CSM), and with participation of two families who had a member with Alzheimer's disease at home. Results: Three categories emerged: Effects of Alzheimer's disease and the family dynamics; Development process of Alzheimer's disease and Coping strategies in face of the disease. Conclusion: It was possible to know the manifestations and consequences of Alzheimer's disease in the family, such as mutual help, the mobilization of resources to activate memories of the past, spirituality and faith. There was also understanding of the structure of family dynamics.

Gerontotecnologias Utilizadas Pelos Familiares/Cuidadores De Idosos Com Alzheimer: Contribuição Ao Cuidado Complexo

“…2 Care for the elderly person with AD generates multiple demands for the family caregiver 3 and produces difficult-to-manage feelings in the family that impose changes in the social, physical, psychological and financial aspects. 4 Care demands grow as the AD evolves which results increased workload for the family caregiver. A study that aimed to describe the repercussions of AD on the life of the family caregiver demonstrated that feelings such as sadness, tiredness, impotence, stress are present in their day-to-day lives.…”

Care Strategies for the Elderly with Alzheimer's Disease: Integrative Literature Review

“…The progressive symptomatology, with cognitive and behavioral alteration of the elderly with AD directly influences the difficulty of performing Daily Life Activities (DLA), making the elderly more and more sick and dependent on their relatives and the affective relationships of family members are constantly changing, due to unexpected factors, such as the appearance of a chronic-degenerative disease [20].…”

“…According to Vizzachi et al [20] the nurse should work with the family members of the AD carrier, exercising his role of diagnosing and planning the needs of the patient and family, which are extremely important for the care and support of the patient, considering that the family dynamics may have changes, in addition to designing coping strategies and understanding how the family dynamics is structured, demonstrated in different feelings and ways of identifying the changes that the disease brings to the patient and family.…”

Avaliação do ecossistema domiciliar de idosos com Alzheimer a partir do Indicador Holístico de Saúde do Ecossistema

“…É dividida em três fases ou estágios; na fase inicial, ocorre dificuldade de linguagem, perda de memória recente e da capacidade de reconhecer as pessoas com as quais convive. Pode ocorrer, ainda, desorientação em tempo e espaço, sinais de depressão, agressividade e perda do interesse em atividades sociais e de lazer (Vizzachi, Daspett, Cruz, & Horta, 2015).…”

“…Na fase intermediária da DA, a pessoa idosa apresenta uma crescente perda de memória e início das alterações na linguagem, raciocínio e dificuldades motoras, o que conduz à necessidade de cuidados constantes. Na terceira e última fase, a pessoa idosa com DA apresenta restrição ao leito, mutismo, retenção e ou incontinência intestinal/urinária e adoção da posição fetal (Vizzachi et al, 2015). Devido à sintomatologia, a pessoa idosa com a DA vivencia uma situação de dependência de cuidados que, na realidade brasileira, são realizados, na maioria das vezes, pelos familiares, no Ecossistema domiciliar (Cassol et al, 2018).…”