THE OVERBURDEN OF FAMILY MEMBERS CARING FOR DEPENDENT ELDERLY PEOPLE

Abstract

The growing demand for home care for dependent elderly individuals creates intense burden on family caregivers, with critical biopsychosocial repercussions. This study aimed to address the psychological, social, and economic impacts on family caregivers of dependent elderly individuals, highlighting the main challenges and needs encountered in their daily lives. A literature review methodology was adopted (SciELO, PubMed, LILACS databases; 2010-2024). The results revealed that burden arises from a multifactorial convergence: an alarming prevalence of psychological disorders with clinically relevant depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and suicidal ideation, aggravated by chronic anticipatory grief and cognitive exhaustion. The financial impact exacerbates this crisis, where for many family caregivers, assuming the role means reducing work hours or abandoning their careers, leading to economic consequences. The main conclusions were that burden constitutes cumulative psychosocial trauma, requiring specialized attention from multidisciplinary teams, an expanded support network, and co-responsible family involvement. The study contributes a new conceptual model that recognizes the phenomenon as a bidirectional process, where the caregiver's health directly determines the quality of care for the elderly.