Cuidadores de idosos na perspectiva da terapia ocupacional: revisão de escopo

Abstract

In recent years, the Brazilian population has seen a considerable increase in the number of elderly people. It is important to highlight that with the growth of this population also comes an increase in the specific needs of this age group. One of the main points involving this group is the prevalence of chronic diseases. As a result, the need for caregivers will increase, whether formal or informal. These caregivers also need care, as many of them end up having an exhausting working day, which can result in a deterioration in their physical and mental health and social isolation. When assisting the elderly population, the occupational therapist will also pay attention to the caregiver, as he or she is most responsible for the well-being of the elderly person. This study aimed to map the scientific production of Occupational Therapy regarding caregivers of elderly people. This is a Scoping review study, according to the review method proposed by the Jonna Briggs Institute (2015). The searches were carried out in the databases: Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, Revisbrato, Revista de Terapia Ocupacional da USP and Scielo. In the results, 51 articles were identified, of which 15 were selected for the composition of this study, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria adopted. Four themes addressed by occupational therapists in their research were identified: studies on the impacts of caring activities on caregivers' occupations; the burden on caregivers; the strategies used by caregivers; occupational therapy interventions. In conclusion, this review made it possible to visualize how complex the task of caring is and entails changes or even an interruption in the caregiver's occupational roles, and how valuable occupational therapy in this context is.