FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE ELDERLY AND THE POSITIVE FUTURE PERSPECTIVES OF THE CAREGIVER: A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE AND HOPE

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the relationship between the functional independence of the elderly in activities of daily living and the positive future perspectives (hope) of the caregiver. The participants were elderly people cared for at the Family Health Units in the city of São Carlos (SP) and their respective elderly caregivers. The instruments used for data collection were: Sociodemographic Characterization Form of the Elderly and Caregiver, Herth Hope Scale; Scale of Independence in Basic Activities of Daily Living – Katz and Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living – Lawton. Of the 343 elderly care recipients interviewed, 70.6% were male. The mean age of the elderly was 73.69 years (SD = 8.56). Regarding activities of daily living, the mean scores were 5.08 points (SD = 1.739) for basic activities and 13.717 points (SD = 4.014) for instrumental activities. Regarding the caregivers, most were female (77%). The mean age of the caregivers was 69.58 years (SD = 7.09). Eighty-five percent cared for their spouses. The mean hope score of the caregivers was 41.2 points (SD = 5.37). The correlational analyses between the independence of the elderly person and the hope of their caregiver found in this study were significant, but weak (basic activities of daily living and hope: rho=0.127, p=0.019; and instrumental activities of daily living and hope: rho=0.197, p=.000). It can be concluded that there is a relationship between the functional independence of the elderly person in activities of daily living and the positive future prospects of the caregiver.