Care of people with disabilities: a study with caregivers assisted of the family health program

Abstract

The study presents research results that aimed to clarify the task related to the careof people with disabilities. It focuses on caregivers of people with disabilities, residents of the VilaPrudente and Sapopemba areas, São Paulo (Brazil), covered by the “Family Health Program” (PSF)from 2000 to 2007. Thus, it was taken seventeen interviews consisting of open questions: nine ofthem with the professional rehabilitation team and the other questions with caregivers of peoplewith disabilities. The goal was to understand the caregivers` profi le regarding age, gender, educationlevel, religion, relationship, activities realized for the care of people with disabilities, as well astheir future projects, changes related to what happened after becoming caregiver and their supportnetwork. The analysis of the caregiver’s interview showed that the care is carried out – most of thetime – by women with ages between 40 and 50 years, that dedicated themselves full time to thecare people with disabilities. In the same way, the investigation of the professionals of the team’sinterview gave data about their understanding of the caregivers, which are their needs and actionsdeveloped by the team to this population. It was concluded that the caregivers daily is permeatedby confl icts and problems that should be better observed by the health team, since the caregiver ispart of the care provided to the person with disability and frequently he himself often ends not seenas a person who is under constant stress and who needs help of his own issues.