Sobrecarga de los cuidadores de adultos mayores dependientes con pie diabético

Abstract

Introduction: Prolonged care of dependent elderly people with diabetic foot represents a significant burden for caregivers, negatively impacting their health and shortening their life expectancy. Objective: to identify the overload of caregivers of dependent elderly people with diabetic foot at the Cerro Polyclinic. Methods: a descriptive observational study was carried out by applying a survey and interviewing 47 caregivers selected in a non-probabilistic and intentional way. Results: Most caregivers (61.7%) experience intense overload, with daughters (46.8%) being the predominant family group. The age of the caregiver is mainly between 50 and 59 years (25.53%), with a high percentage of married women (68.08%). The most frequent occupation is housewife (80.85%) and the educational level is medium (85.11%). Diabetes mellitus (87.23%) was the most common disease among caregivers, while depression (80.85%) predominated in psychological affectation. Conclusions: The study showed a high prevalence of intense overload among caregivers, which constitutes a risk for their health. The need to implement educational strategies for guidance for caregivers and family members in the community context is highlighted, in order to mitigate overload and improve the quality of life of caregivers.