Abstract

AVILA OLIVA, Marcia Maritza. Characterization of the family of old people with cognitive impairment. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2012, vol.38, n.2, pp. 246-252. ISSN 0864-3466.

Introduction: the extension of life expectancy has increased the incidence and prevalence of diseases that occur at older ages such as dementias. Objective: to characterize the families of the older adults with cognitive impairment, according to variables of interest. Methods: cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on families of older adults with cognitive impairment in "Alcides Ríos" people´s council located in "Holguín" municipality during 2010. The sample was made up of 139 families identified by the geriatricians or by the family physicians. For data collection, the interviews and the documentary review were used together with a customized instrument to classify families on the basis of their functioning. Results: it was found that 41.6% of the sample was extended families and 38.8% corresponded to big families; 36.1% and 30.6% of them were getting smaller or were vanishing respectively. All these families faced some family crisis with para-normative crises in 86.1% of cases. Inadequate management of the old person´s disease was seen in 88.9% of families whereas 38.9% of them were dysfunctional. Conclusions: the families of older people with cognitive impairment in "Alcides Pino" people´s council were far from being the adequate supporting network required by these elders.

Keywords : Family; cognitive impairment; family crisis; confrontation.

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