VIVÊNCIAS SUBJETIVAS DE FAMILIARES QUE CUIDAM DE IDOSOS DEPENDENTES

Denise Machado Duran Gutierrez; Girliani Silva de  Sousa; Ana Elisa Bastos  Figueiredo; Maria de Nazaré Souza  Ribeiro; Cleisiane Xavier  Diniz; Guiomar Alegria Souza Silva Nobre

doi:10.1590/SciELOPreprints.1258

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Denise Machado Duran Gutierrez Universidade Federal do Amazonas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0031-3045
Girliani Silva de Sousa Escola Paulista de Enfermagem. Departamento de Enfermagem Clínica e Cirúrgica. Universidade Federal de São Paulo. São Paulo - SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0988-5744
Ana Elisa Bastos Figueiredo Departamento de Estudos sobre Violência e Saúde Jorge Careli, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7207-0911
Maria de Nazaré Souza Ribeiro Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde. Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus – AM, Brasil
Cleisiane Xavier Diniz Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde. Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus – AM, Brasil
Guiomar Alegria Souza Silva Nobre Faculdade de Psicologia. Universidade Federal de Amazonas. Av. General Rodrigo Octavio Jordão Ramos, 1200 - Coroado I, Manaus - AM, 69067-005 e-mail: ddgutie@ufam.edu.br. Programa de Pós-Graduação Mestrado Acadêmico em Psicologia, Manaus – AM, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8672-5106

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.1258

Keywords:

Family caregivers, Dependent older adult, Care, Subjectivity

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the subjective meanings attributed to home care by family caregivers of dependent older adults through a multicenter qualitative investigation that gathered 84 in-depth interviews with family caregivers from eight Brazilian locations. The hermeneutic-dialectic, theoretical, methodological framework was employed. The following categories emerged from the analysis: 1. Movements inhibiting emotions and feelings; 2. Presence of processes of symbiosis and emotional dependence in the older adult-relative relationship; 3. Contentment in caring for the dependent older adult; and 4. Giving up current and future life projects. The results reveal life experiences marked by symbiotic processes, emotional dependence, and psychic stress. Dependence causes suffering and feelings of despair, powerlessness, impatience, but also solidarity and empathy. Withdrawal from the job market, social depreciation of family caregiver’s activity, social isolation, neglected self-care, and family conflicts impact caregivers’ subjectivity. The elaboration of public policies must consider the social-affective life experiences of family caregivers of dependent older adults in order to include the care of those providing care.