Depressão na terceira idade na perspectiva do curador familiar.

Abstract

The research aims to evaluate the elderly caregiver´s perception about the emotional status of the elderly using, as an evaluation tool, validated geriatric depression scales modified. Were used the Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Zung (EDAZ) and the Geriatric Depression Scale Yesavage (EDY). So caregiver´s perceptions were compared with the results of validated geriatric depression scale. This study is an decritive, transversal and quantitative character research, which was attended by 20 pairs of elderly-caregiver. The test was performed at elderly and / or elderly caregiver home. The results show that there was a positive and significant correlation between the variable of caregiver´s perception by adapted EDAZ and emotional level according to EDAZ (ρ Spearman = 0.64; p> 0.01). There was also a positive but no significant correlation between the variable of caregiver´s perception and emotional level in agreement with EDY (ρ = 0,15 Spearman; p> 0.74). This standard guides that there wasn’t correlation between the adapted and original EDY, therefore unsustainable interpretation of statistical standpoint. The elderly caregiver rated by adapted scale EDAZ have more perception the emotional status of the elderly.