Elderly caregivers of the elderly: frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem Vol. 72; no. suppl 2; pp. 88 - 96
• Main Authors: Santos-Orlandi, Ariene Angelini Dos, Brigola, Allan Gustavo, Ottaviani, Ana Carolina, Luchesi, Bruna Moretti, Souza, Érica Nestor, Moura, Fernanda Gomez de, Zacarin, Juliana de Fátima, Terassi, Mariélli, Oliveira, Nathalia Alves de, Pavarini, Sofia Cristina Iost
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem 01-01-2019
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; Caregivers - statistics & numerical data; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - etiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Frailty - complications; Frailty - psychology; Geriatric Nursing; Geriatrics - methods; Households; Humans; Interviews as Topic - methods; Logistic Models; Loneliness; Loneliness - psychology; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Nursing; Older people; Sociodemographics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Brazil
• ISSN: 0034-7167; 1984-0446
• DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0137

to investigate the association between frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms of elderly caregivers.
a cross - sectional study carried out with 341 elderly caregivers enrolled in Family Health Units of a city in the countryside of São Paulo State. The interviews were domiciliary and included questionnaire for characterization of the caregiver, Fried's frailty phenotype, family APGAR (family functionality), Geriatric Depression Scale (depressive symptoms) and item 3 of the Herth Hope Scale (loneliness). Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between depressive symptoms and solitude (independent variables), and frailty and pre-frailty (dependent variables).
there was an association between frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms. Elderly caregivers had increased odds of 158% presenting pre-frailty, and 360% of frailty. Elderly caregivers with depressive symptoms had an increased chance of 242% of presenting fragility.
elderly and lonely caregivers with depressive symptoms are more likely to be frail and pre-frail.