title: [Caring for the highly dependent elderly in the community: a study on the main family caregivers].
abstract: This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the main family caregivers of highly dependent elderly. Performed in a geriatric outpatient unit, the study used a content analysis methodology, and data were collected with interviews and 14 group sessions with 24 subjects. The following categories emerged: denial versus acceptance of the disease before and after diagnosis; how and why the main caregiver assumes this role; caregiver's characteristics; caregiver's experiences; meanings ascribed to care-giving; history of the caregiver's relationship to the elder before the disease; caregiver/elder relationship since onset of the disease; changes in the caregiver's life; changes in the family; and causes for the appearance of the disease. In conclusion, there are three dimensions in the target issue: (1) implications of the legacies, multi-generational transmission, repetition of the patterns, and myths and beliefs in each family system; (2) seniors as active participants in the care-giving decision; and (3) the support group as a key resource for the family.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: Teresinha Mello
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: da Silveira
authors.forename: Célia Pereira
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.forename: Terezinha Féres
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged