Oral reports by caregivers for ill and frail elderly relatives, in regard to risk factors for intrafamily violence

Abstract

Considering the difficulty in researching the occurrence of violence against other people, the objective of this study was to identify risk factors as predictors of violence against the elderly, based on oral reports by family caregivers on their relationship with the elderly relative. Interviews were conducted with six caregivers living in the region served by a Basic Health Unit in the city of Jequié, Bahia, Brazil, where their relatives received care as part of the Family Health Program (PSF) of that city. All signed the Consent Form, and the interviews took place between 08/2004 to 07/2005. The thematic analysis of reports resulted in the prominence of the factors of dependence, stress and isolation. In regard to dependence, according to the reports of caregivers, the factors that most acted as stressors were: progressive disabling disease of the elderly relative that requires basic continuous life care and onset of disease in the caregiving family member, which impairs the task of caring. Stress results from several factors, such as care overload due to being the only caregiver or due to excessive time as a caregiver; choice of being the caregiver by imposition and negative perception of care; previous history of family violence; and accumulation of stressors expressed as situational stress conditions, including cohabitation by the elderly and caregiver, and uncertain economic situation. The social isolation of the caregiver was indicated as a strong stressor because it restricts previous social life due to his/her commitment of caring for the elderly relative.