Caring for elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of family caregivers
Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2022 Jul 31:43:e20210038.
doi: 10.1590/1983-1447.2022.20210038.en.
eCollection 2022.
[Article in
English,
Portuguese]
Affiliations
- 1 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicamentos e Assistência Farmacêutica. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
- 2 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Estudos em Atenção Farmacêutica. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
- 3 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais(UFMG), Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
- 4 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais(UFMG), Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Farmácia Social. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Abstract
Objective:
To build a theoretical model that represents the experience of family caregivers of elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method:
Qualitative study that used the Grounded Theory as a methodology, carried out in Minas Gerais State in August 2020. 16 caregivers were interviewed.
Results:
Uncomfortable emotions emerged and drove the caregivers' actions to: adopt preventive measures to protect the elderly from contracting the coronavirus; guarantee their healthcare; and make them aware of the pandemic. However, when these emotions manifested in an exacerbated manner, they needed to be alleviated so that they could adopt such initiatives.
Conclusion:
The emotions felt by caregivers can compromise their health and quality of life. Therefore, health professionals need to create strategies to ensure that they are well assisted, enabling care through telehealth. Guidance on the pandemic for caregivers could reflect better care for the elderly people.
MeSH terms
-
Aged
-
COVID-19* / epidemiology
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Caregivers* / psychology
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Family / psychology
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Humans
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Pandemics
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Qualitative Research
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Quality of Life