PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING: COMPARISON BETWEEN CAREGIVERS OF OLDER ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT DEMENTIA

Exercise the task of caring for a dependent elderly, especially with dementia can lead the caregiver burden. Social skills (HS) and coping strategies (EEE) may serve as protective factors. The aim of this study was to compare two groups of family caregivers: elderly with physical dependence and other with elderly with cognitive and physical dependence as its perception of burden, quality of relationship with the elderly, social skills and coping strategies and to compare the needs arising from the provision of care to their elderly relative. The study included 20 elderly - caregiverdyads, all female, divided into two groups: lucid elderly caregivers (N = 10) and caregivers of patients with dementia (N = 10). Caregivers responded to instruments of social skills, coping skills, stress, burden, quality of the relationshipand needs. Caregivers of elderly with dementia reported more: burden, difficulties of dealing with fair criticism, emotionalself-control and needs