The results of training of informal caregivers on the quality of life of the ederly with a déficit in self-care

The elderly population in Brazil has been growing apace, and this demographic transition has increasingly led to a situation where the elderly are dependent upon their relatives. However, the development of a training program could contribute to an improvement in the services provided by these caregivers, enhancing quality of life for the elderly. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a Training Program for Informal Caregivers on the quality of life of elderly people with a deficit in self-care. Home visits were initially made to 15 elderly patients and the SF-36 questionnaire was applied. A multi-professional training program for the caregivers of these elderly people was then developed. The SF-36 questionnaire was again applied after 2 months of the training program to verify its effectiveness on the quality of life of the elderly people. On average a significant increase of scores related to "mental health" and a significant decrease in "limitations of physical aspects" was detected. The training of informal groups of caregivers by professionals from the healthcare area should be encouraged in order to promote awareness, exchange experiences and discuss the best inherent strategies for care.