Cuidadores de idosos atuantes em residências coletivas de congregações religiosas : um estudo de caso

Abstract

The caretaking activity developed by the caretakers of the elderly in the Institutes of long permanence meets the complexity and mystery proper to the human being. Therefore the need to understand the formative process of these professionals. The present study had as general objective to identify the process of formation/capability of caretakers of the elderly active in Institutions of Long Permanence of the Congregation of Our Lady Notre Dame as well as the Institute of the Daughters of St. Camillus, in a perspective of a comparative study. Caretakers of the Elderly was the denomination designated for the professionals direcly envolved in the care of the elderly person, as well as those who in some way participate in the process and work at least one year in the ILPIs (Institutos de Longa Permanência de Idosos / Institutes of Long Permanence of the Elderly). It deals with a research of qualitative nature, a descriptive kind, following the method of a case study, The data collection was done in March and April 2015, by the researcher herself, using a structured questionnaire. Also a documental analysis was made. The semi-structured interviews were recorded on a MP3 equipment, with the previous authorization of the person being interviewed. Afterwards they were entirely transcribed. The subjects are identified by the letter E, followed by the corresponding number. Ten caretakers of each place were interviewed, coming to a total of twenty. The time of an interview was about forty minutes. In the results we identified the challenges met by the caretakers, common to both ILPIs, related to the behaviour and the health condition of the elderly person, and the fulfillment of the caretaker, as well as the challenges related to the work with the families of the elderly person and the organizational atmosphere. The datas allowed to understand the perception of formation of the participants, expressed in words, understood by the caretakers as a need of: investment, improvement, preparation, knowledge, acceptance, experience, modernization, which is necessary, important, deficient and similar. The suggestions regarding the capability follow two points of attention in both places: a) need to invest in the formation through courses for caretakers, specific training, practical living and lectures. b) Standards which offer support to the caretaker, with emphasis to groups of support and a possibility of psychological attention to the caretakers. Based on the studied sample, it is noticed that there exists a need to qualify the caretakers, to invest in the relationship with the families in the State of São Paulo, as well as the need to work on the organizational atmosphere of the Institutions in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The results of the studies refer to the need of more research in the area of human aging, emphasizing the formation of caretakers of the elderly