Abstract

DIAZ ALFONSO, Humbelina et al. Ethical repercussions of the caregiver-burnout on the elderly's quality of life. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.3, pp. 478-490. ISSN 1561-3194.

Introduction: population ageing requires of changes in people’s habits and training for caregivers, in order to improve the quality of life of the elderly and of those who care for them. Objective: to determine the impact of caregiver burnout in the quality of life of the elderly. Material and method: this research was carried out at Dr. León Cuervo Rubio Provincial General Hospital in Geriatric and Gerontology Service, during January-May 2014. It is a descriptive, observational and cross-sectional research. The target group was comprised of 300 patients attending to the mentioned service during this period of time, some of them hospitalized and other from outpatient offices where all of them were assessed by the specialists, a sample taken at random of 200 patients meeting the inclusion criteria was chosen, considering the medical ethics.  Results: the relationship existing between the elderly quality of life and the caregivers’ degree of exhaustation was demonstrated, finding a directly proportional correlation; caregiver’s burnout implies lower quality of life in the elderly. Conclusions: a greater quantity of female caregivers was found concerning the characterization of the sample, family ties, more than a year as caregivers and most of them were 60 years old and older, 68.5% of the sample showed signs of burnout, as well. The quality of life of elderly care was mostly low and medium.

Keywords : Caregivers; Quality of life; Aged.

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