Sobrecarga en cuidadores informales de adultos mayores en la ciudad de Cuenca, provincial del Azuay, durante el periodo 2018 - 2019

Abstract

Abstract:The objective of this research was to identify the work overload in informal caregivers of older adults in the urban sector of the city of Cuenca, during the year 2019. The following results were obtained, the informal caregivers are: mostly women, married, working and caring for their relative, with high school and university studies. Older adults are mostly female, married and widowed, with an average age of 80. With respect to informal caregivers, 55% are not overburdened; they consider that they do not have the necessary skills for care; the degree of dependency is moderate; 70% have psychological discomfort; the most used coping strategies are: acceptance, active coping, among others; 80% consider that they have little social support; and, they identified with features of extroversion and neuroticism. As for the older adult, they presented a normal and mild cognitive deterioration. It was concluded that informal carers, despite having work activities and exercising care, a low competence of care and scarce social support, maintain a low perception of overload.