Cuidar das pessoas com sinais de demência

: intervenção de enfermagem comunitária com cuidadores

Abstract

Currently, the phenomenon of ageing is a worldwide reality. Demographic changes bring consequences for health, leading to an increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases of prolonged evolution, one of these pathologies being dementia. (WHO, 2015). Portugal presents 1.88% of the population with dementia and it is estimated that in 2050, the number will increase to 3.82% (Alzheimer Europe, 2019). Dementias lead to functional losses, namely at the level of autonomy of the elderly. This loss of autonomy leads to dependence and, consequently, to the search for social responses aimed at supporting families, thus emerging the concept of formal caregiver. These caregivers are not always trained in the area of care provision to people with signs of dementia, so community nursing should develop strategies to train and empower this professional group with a view to increasing their knowledge and improving the quality of care provided by them. The project was developed in a home support service, integrated into a Social Solidarity Institution, in the area covered by the Community Care Unit (CCU) "Saúde a seu Lado". It aimed to contribute to the capacity building of family helpers of the home support service, regarding the provision of care to persons with signs of dementia. It was based on the Health Planning Methodology and Dorothea Orem's Theoretical Model. Based on the diagnosis of the situation, the results obtained, the prioritisation of diagnoses and the definition of strategies, interventions were developed within the scope of health education in collaboration with the Mental Health and Psychiatric Specialist Nurse of the CCU. The group's participation, adherence and satisfaction in the sessions held was positive, suggesting significant gains in knowledge acquisition, fundamental to the empowerment of formal caregivers. The activities developed contributed to the development of specific skills of the nurse specialist in community nursing and public health.

Date of Award	13 Sept 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Elisa Maria Bernardo Garcia (Supervisor)