Experiences of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer disease may be considered as a familiar disease by interfering in the quotidian of families. The search seeks to know experiences of family with Alzheimer disease. It is qualitative, descriptive, comprising six familiar caregivers who got in tauch with the sick person continuously, residents in four cities in the northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul. The data collection occurred in November 2006, through open interview, with the following guiding question: "How is/was for you to take care of your familiar Alzheimer disease?". The data analysis followed the steps recommended for thematic analysis and the ethical aspects involving studies with people were observed. The analysis of the testimonies appeared the theme: Experiences of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease: the impact of the disease in everyday family. They expressed difficulties in the management of the patient, ignorance of the disease, sadness and insecurity. We can identify the need to home care by health professionals to the family caregivers of people with Alzheimer, including guidelines and support concerning the illness and care. The results of this research also show that the relatives are not element of intervention of health teams and the actions are fragmented and specific.