Challenges faced by family caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer’s

Abstract

Objective: To understand the challenges faced by family caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer’s. Method: This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative approach. The search was conducted in the databases Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) and Base de Dados de Enfermagem (BDENF), both belonging to the Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Studies published between 2019 and 2023, available in full text, in Portuguese, were included. After applying the previously established inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 11 studies. Results: It was found that family caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) face challenges related to physical and emotional burden, due to continuous dedication to care, directly impacting family structure and social interaction. Difficulties in managing the cognitive and behavioral changes of the elderly person stand out, associated with a lack of preparation and adequate information about the disease. In this context, the quality of life of the family caregiver is affected, contributing to physical and mental illness over time. Conclusion: It was indicated that family caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) face numerous challenges, marked by physical, emotional, and social burden, difficulty in managing the cognitive manifestations of the disease, and insufficient family support. These factors compromise caregivers’ quality of life, highlighting the need for health promotion strategies, continuous support, and strengthening of care networks, minimizing the impacts of caregiving and improving care for elderly people with Alzheimer’s.