Illness risk and overburden among caregivers of dependent elderly

Introduction: old age increase the likelihood that health problems arise, whichnecessarily involve greater dependency. The family usually assumes the role of caringfor the elderly, becoming informal caregivers.Objective: to determine the risk of overload and illness among informal caregivers ofdependent elderly.Methodology: this is a descriptive study, which included informal caregivers of elderlypatients attending a program of promotion and prevention of cardiovascular disease in Cartagena, Colombia, from May to October 2008. The Zarit scale for assessing caregiverburden and the social readjustment rating scale were administered (SRRS).Results: fifty two informal caregivers of outpatient elderly were assessed, of which 6(11.5%) were males and 46 (88.5%) were women, their main activity were housewives,business advisor, advisors through catalogs, traders, taxi driver, accountant,unemployed, fashion designers, teachers, nurses, hairdressers, community mothers,dressmaker, worker or pensioner, with age range from 25 to 81 years. It was observedthat 42% had greater burden and 30% minimum burden; 64% had moderate or greaterrisk of disease in coming months.Conclusion: informal care-giving is usually performed by women and this responsibilityis accompanied by high prevalence of overburden and disease.RESUMEN:Introducción: la edad mayor y la ancianidad aumentan la probabilidad que sepresenten problemas de salud, que implican necesariamente dependencia. Un familiarsuele asumir el rol de cuidar al anciano, convirtiéndose en cuidador informal.Objetivo: establecer el riesgo de sobrecarga y de enfermar de cuidadores informalesde personas adultas mayores dependientes.Metodología: estudio descriptivo, en el cual se incluyeron cuidadores informales depacientes ancianos, que asistieron a consulta en un programa de promoción y prevencióndel riesgo cardiovascular en Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, durante el periodo de mayoa octubre del 2008. Se les aplicó el cuestionario de sobrecarga del cuidador de Zarit yla escala de reajuste social (SRRS).Resultados: participaron 52 cuidadores informales que acompa aban a pacientesancianos a consulta externa: 6 (11.5%) varones y 46 (88.5%) mujeres. Sus actividadesprincipales y habituales era ama de casa, asesor comercial, asesor por catálogo,comerciante independiente, conductor de taxi, contador, desempleado, dise adora demodas, docente, enfermera, estilista, madre comunitaria, modista, obrero o pensionado.El rango de edades estaba entre 25 y 81 a os. Se observó que el 42% tenía sobrecargaintensa y el 30% sobrecarga leve. El 64% tenía