Identifi cation of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in the residents elderly of a Long Stay Institution

Abstract

Chronic diseases affect signifi cantly the quality of life of elderly population andmay also be associated with the presence of behavioral and psychological symptoms. The aim ofthis study was to identify the frequency and intensity of behavioral and psychological symptomsin institutionalized elderly, referred by their formal caregivers, relating them with the diagnosis,subjective burden and the wear proportionate to the formal caregiver. Three assessment tools wereapplied to formal caregivers of Nursing Homes: the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, The Independencein Activities of Daily Living Index (Katz Index) and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview. Twelveformal caregivers were evaluated, responding by 90 elderly residents of the institution, 86.7% ofthe elderly presented at least one symptom, the most common were: anxiety (28.9%), agitationand depression (both with 22.2%), as well as the most intense 25.6% (anxiety), 20% (agitation)and 17.8% (depression) tively. Signifi cant correlations were found between the diagnosis and thefunctionality and between diagnosis and symptoms. This research demonstrated the importanceof interventions on behavioral and psychological symptoms and the attention to the caregiver,with relation to the information and the wear and subjective burden that symptoms attribute. Alsonoteworthy that the presence of these symptoms contributes to the reduction of the functionalcapacity, which is a marker of health for the elderly population.