Influência do cuidador informal na reabilitação do doente, no contexto dos cuidados continuados

The goal of this study was to understand how the presence of Informal Caregivers affect positively or negatively the rehabilitation of the patients. The Unity of Continuous Care in Long-Term care service and Maintenance belongs to Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Mangualde, place where this study was conducted, and it holds dependent patients, mostly elders. The elders dependence brings an overcharge to the caregivers due to physical, psychological and social care that they have to give them. Take care implies affection, treatment knowledge and awareness of caretaker limits. This person emerges mainly from family environment, being the spouse or sun the most common caregivers. Dealing with the disease and dependence has implications both for patient and family, primarily psychological, as they adapt to the new way of living. If all those around the patient accept and understand positively the situation, the patient himself will feel supported and will adapt better to his new way of life. Taking the caretaker into the rehabilitation process brings additional motivation to the patient and creates a feeling of support and comfort from his dear ones. For this study, thirty-three inquiries were realised in direct contact with the Informal Caregivers from the Unity of Continuous Care in Long-Term care service and Maintenance of Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Mangualde. From this study, in generic terms, we can say that the Informal Caretaker influence positively the patients rehabilitation only if they're ok with their presence.