Beliefs and opinions in caregiving of elderly with AIDS: an exploratory study

Abstract

Objective: To explore what informal caregivers of elderly with AIDS think about the disease itself, the infection in elderly people, and about being a caregiver. Methods: A qualitative study in which the thematic content analysis of interviews resulted in the emergence of three categories: “conceptions about AIDS”, “AIDS in old age” and “being a caregiver”. Results: We observed the emergence of issues related to the three aspects, which must be considered in a broader analysis within the patient-caregiver relationship. Such questions involve information about the disease, living with the patient, gender differences and the specificities resulting from the infection at this stage of life. Conclusion: From this study, it is expected that greater attention be given to relationships of care provided by informal network of support to elderly people living with AIDS, in order to foster researches on social, affective, motivational and behavior aspects of caregivers.