As older couples age, often one partner becomes more competent and able to care for the other, in which case they are able to remain in their homes. In one township in the northeastern United States, the caregiving role had a significant effect on the lives of elderly men who care for their wives. The purpose of this quantitative project study was to determine the relationship between perceived stress burden and perceived level of social support services and between perceived stress burden and use of support services by elderly male spousal caregivers residing in active adult communities. Watson's theory of caring provided the theoretical foundation for this study. A correlational design was used and data were collected from 82 elderly male spousal caregivers with (a) the Zarit Burden Interview; (b) the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; and (c) a checklist, Support Services in Your Area. Descriptive analysis indicated that participants carry a large stress burden, particularly emotional stress (Zarit Burden score of 36.58/65), enjoy strong social support (Multidimensional Scale score of 45.47/75), and use few community services. Pearson's product-moment correlation revealed no significant relationship between perceived stress burden and perceived social support or between perceived stress burden and use of community services, indicating that men feel emotional stress but the feelings are not related to their use of community services. As community services were not used by elderly male caregiver spouses, a workshop for professionals was developed to help the professionals expand programs and services that may have value for these men in their caregiver role. This study has social significance because satisfaction with the caregiver role has consequences for the health and financial well-being of the elderly and for U.S. society.

As older couples age, often one partner becomes more competent and able to care for the other, in which case they are able to remain in their homes. In one township in the northeastern United States, the caregiving role had a significant effect on the lives of elderly men who care for their wives. The purpose of this quantitative project study was to determine the relationship between perceived stress burden and perceived level of social support services and between perceived stress burden and use of support services by elderly male spousal caregivers residing in active adult communities. Watson's theory of caring provided the theoretical foundation for this study. A correlational design was used and data were collected from 82 elderly male spousal caregivers with (a) the Zarit Burden Interview; (b) the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; and (c) a checklist, Support Services in Your Area. Descriptive analysis indicated that participants carry a large stress burden, particularly emotional stress (Zarit Burden score of 36.58/65), enjoy strong social support (Multidimensional Scale score of 45.47/75), and use few community services. Pearson's product-moment correlation revealed no significant relationship between perceived stress burden and perceived social support or between perceived stress burden and use of community services, indicating that men feel emotional stress but the feelings are not related to their use of community services. As community services were not used by elderly male caregiver spouses, a workshop for professionals was developed to help the professionals expand programs and services that may have value for these men in their caregiver role. This study has social significance because satisfaction with the caregiver role has consequences for the health and financial well-being of the elderly and for U.S. society.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2016-11-17T11:24:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Paula Gomes De Oliveira.pdf: 1430620 bytes, checksum: 324a771b8afcad67e86a0dcb77e7d5e5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-17T11:24:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Paula Gomes De Oliveira.pdf: 1430620 bytes, checksum: 324a771b8afcad67e86a0dcb77e7d5e5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Aging has been drawing attention from governments and significant portions of society. This is a consequence of the increase of the elderly population and it has implications for the structures of the social, economic and cultural relations. This matter is challenging because it makes visible the different aspects of longevity. Consequently, the focus is on chronic degenerative diseases, as they are primarily related to many more years of life. In Brazil, women who take care of their husbands are not visible to the statistics. The reality is that there is an increase in cases of spouse care related to dementia. This work focus on that scenario. In the present study, elder subject requires caregivers caused by some degree of dependence on their daily activities. We will carry out a case study, with a previously chosen subject, trying to bring out the behaviors, perceptions and feelings of the caregiver spouse. We will study about these complex aspects of the relationship, particularly in the situation of a long-term marriage. That strong links are essential in the care of an elderly person, and may provide a basis for follow-up in cases where there is the presence of family caregivers. It is also noted the importance of psychological support to family caregivers and professional caregivers, considering the emotional aspects as necessary to a note that should take into account the possibility of human suffering in any scenario / O envelhecimento vem chamando atenção de governos e de significativas parcelas da sociedade. Isso decorre do aumento da população idosa e das implicações na estrutura das relações sociais, econômicas e culturais. O tema passa a ser desafiador, inclusive, por tornar visíveis aspectos da longevidade. Como consequência, holofotes se voltaram para as doenças crônico-degenerativas, prioritariamente relacionadas aos muitos mais anos vividos. No Brasil, mulheres que cuidam dos maridos passam como invisíveis às estatísticas. Cada vez mais, torna-se uma realidade um cuidador cônjuge acompanhar um quadro demencial. O presente trabalho visou esse cenário. O idoso do estudo aqui proposto necessita de cuidadores por possuir algum grau de dependência nas suas atividades cotidianas. Trata-se de um estudo de caso, com sujeito previamente escolhido, que traz à tona as condutas, percepções e sentimentos do cuidador cônjuge. Discorrer-se-á sobre esses complexos aspectos da relação, especificamente na situação de um matrimônio de longa duração. Pode-se afirmar que os laços fortes são fundamentais no cuidado a uma pessoa idosa, podendo dar base para um acompanhamento nos casos em que não há a presença de cuidador familiar. Nota-se também a importância de apoios psicológicos aos cuidadores familiares e aos cuidadores profissionais, considerando os aspectos emocionais tão necessários a uma atenção que deve levar em conta a possibilidade de existência de sofrimento humano, em qualquer cenário