The burden of the informal carers of the dependent individual in the domiciliary context

Background: In western societies, the aging population and the social-labour pressures cause difficulties to the families with dependent individuals at domiciliary context. The purpose of this study is to know the main factors that determine the burden of informal carer of the dependent individual in the domiciliary context.

Methods: We used a non-probabilistic sample, formed by 66 informal carers, mostly female (73.9%), whit an average age of 57.24 years.

Findings: Noted the existence of a statistically significant association between the burden of the informal carers, and the variables: age, employment situation, kinship, monthly income, functioning family. There is no significant effect of gender on the burden of the informal carer.

Discussion: The results touched the researchers to the importance of adjusting the specific health care to the expectations and needs of those informal carers.