Abstract

CARDONA ARANGO, Doris et al. DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER IN OLDER PEOPLE. Investig. andina [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.22, pp.178-193. ISSN 0124-8146.

Objetive: describe the demographic and social characteristics of the primary caregiver in older people. Methods: cross-sectional descriptive study, source of primary information from 312 caregivers of older adults registered in the Quality of Life Survey 2008, using the telephone survey to determine health status, conditions of care, dependence on the scale andKatz overload. Univariate andbivariate analysis by sex and municipality, was accompanied by statistical tests. Results: the average age was 54 years, the predominant marital status was married and secondary level, women were mostly housewives and men are employed and spouses or children of the greatest care. The care is on its own initiative, eight hours a day throughout the week and 12% had primary caregiver burden. Conclusions: the primary caregiver of the elderly is mainly women, aged over 50 years and many are themselves older adults, resulting in a double burden: his own condition and that the greatest care, a situation that must be taken into account implement programs to "help the helper" and "care of the caregiver".

Keywords : Aged; Primary Care; Ambulatory Care.

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