Cuidar de idosos institucionalizados: características e dificuldades dos cuidadores

The increasing number of elders in our country leads many of them to live in nursing homes (ILPI), where caregivers assist them. This study aimed at learning the caregivers’ characteristics and work at ILPI by identifying their daily work difficulties. It is an exploratory-descriptive research. Data collection was performed by a semi-structured questionnaire carried out with eleven caregivers that worked at an ILPI. The data analysis was based on thematic analysis. Results evidenced that most caregivers were women, married, aged between 40 to 49 years and had incomplete junior high school level. The difficulties reported allowed the construction of two categories: “labor overload and physical demand” and “need of knowledge of how to take care of elders”. An issue that stands out is the need to (re)think about the practice of caregivers who work at ILPI with the objective of improving their qualification, working conditions and quality of life. Descriptors: Caregivers; Aged; Homes for the Aged; Geriatric Nursing.