Elderly caregivers of the elderly: frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the association between frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms of elderly caregivers. Method: a cross - sectional study carried out with 341 elderly caregivers enrolled in Family Health Units of a city in the countryside of São Paulo State. The interviews were domiciliary and included questionnaire for characterization of the caregiver, Fried’s frailty phenotype, family APGAR (family functionality), Geriatric Depression Scale (depressive symptoms) and item 3 of the Herth Hope Scale (loneliness). Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between depressive symptoms and solitude (independent variables), and frailty and pre-frailty (dependent variables). Results: there was an association between frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms. Elderly caregivers had increased odds of 158% presenting pre-frailty, and 360% of frailty. Elderly caregivers with depressive symptoms had an increased chance of 242% of presenting fragility. Conclusion: elderly and lonely caregivers with depressive symptoms are more likely to be frail and pre-frail.

Factors Associated With Symptoms of Depression Among Older Adults During the Covid-19 Pandemic

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Vivências subjetivas de familiares que cuidam de idosos dependentes

“…Quando questionados sobre como se tornaram cuidadores, em geral, as respostas demonstram o inusitado da nova situação que tiveram que assumir, sem dar ouvidos às próprias frustrações e angústias que a partir de então os invadiram 13,14 . A expressão eu tenho que me controlar ao extremo, denuncia a habilidade que desenvolveram de inibir as emoções num contexto de desamparo ou de ausência de reconhecimento e apoio.…”

Sintomatologia depressiva em cuidadores familiares de idosos com Alzheimer ou outra demência

“…Os resultados evidenciam alto índice de cuidadores com sintomas depressivos de leve a moderado, detectados pelas escalas de HAM-D e MADRS, muito acima do encontrado na literatura (Santos-Orlandi et al, 2019;Terassi, Rossetti, Luchesi, Gramani-Say, Hortense, & Pavarini, 2020). Em nosso estudo, 31,3% dos entrevistados relataram diagnóstico prévio, e dos que referiram não possuir, apenas um não apresentou resultados para sintomatologia depressiva na HAM e MADRS.…”