Apoio aos Cuidadores de Pessoas com Demência: Um Estudo de Caso sobre Estratégias para Reduzir a Sobrecarga

The burden on caregivers of people with dementia is widely recognized as a result of the physical, emotional, and social effort associated with the continuous care of individuals with progressive cognitive decline. Training programs, psychoeducation, and emotional support are effective tools for mitigating the effects of caregiver burden and enhancing resilience. Additionally, caregiver participation in support groups fosters a more nuanced approach to care. The "Memorizar" intervention project aims to minimize the burden on caregivers of people with dementia by offering psychological support, teaching coping strategies, providing active listening and psychoeducational spaces, and creating support groups that encourage experience sharing, learning, and social interaction among peers. This study employed a quantitative evaluation approach using the Zarit Burden Interview applied before and after the "Memorizar" project intervention. The sample included 36 informal caregivers of people with dementia. Results showed that 95% of the surveyed caregivers experienced a reduction in their burden levels following the intervention. Among the nine caregivers initially classified as experiencing intense burden, five transitioned to mild burden levels (56%), and among the nine caregivers with mild burden, six reported no burden post-intervention (67%). These findings highlight the effectiveness of structured interventions in alleviating caregiver burden and underscore the importance of public policies that provide comprehensive support to caregivers, promoting their health and well-being, and improving the quality of care provided.