Famílias clássicas do concelho de Lisboa com parentes institucionalizados

: das causas da institucionalização aos requisitos para cuidado no domicílio

Abstract

In the last century the Portuguese population has undergone significant demographic changes. Due to the aging population, the number of elderly dependents included in the classic family is likely to increase. Often, given the condition of dependence of some of its members, families resort to institutionalization, because care demands for the familiar dependent exceeds the resources (internal and external) that are available within the family. This study aimed to explore the issue of institutionalization of the dependents by classic families in the municipality of Lisbon. It tried to achieve the following objectives: identify the reasons that contributed to the institutionalization; identify the type of family involvement in the process of institutionalization of the dependent, and the resources that the family considers to be necessary to take care of their dependent relatives in the domiciliary environment. The used methodology assumed a quantitative character. It was an exploratory-descriptive and transversal study, in which the data collection instrument (form) was based on bibliography research. This instrument of data collection was applied to a "door to door," approach, based on a probabilistic sample, and stratified by parish of 2551 classic families in the city of Lisbon, between July and September of 2009. 75 families with institutionalized relatives dependents in self-care, agreed to fill the form. Most of the institutionalized dependents are widowed females; reliance on self-care is referred as the primary cause for institutionalization, followed by lack of formal and informal support. These dependents are mainly found at home. Aging is mentioned as the main reason for the emergence of dependence, followed by chronic illness. The decision to institutionalize a dependent relative, arose from the family (as a whole), and it´s generally satisfied with the institution of their institutionalized relative. As regards to the requirements for the family to have their dependent relative at home, we found that the support of health teams was mentioned as a fundamental prerequisite.

Date of Award	2013
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Filipe Pereira (Supervisor) & Andreia Costa (Supervisor)