OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of caregivers of elderly, as well as their importance and main difficulties in caring for the elderly. METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive, exploratory cross-sectional study conducted by the PET Saúde staff in a Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the city of Ananindeua, state of Pará, Brazil. Data was collected through a semistructured questionnaire addressing sociodemographic and issues concerning the importance and difficulties encountered by caregivers of the elderly. RESULTS: We interviewed 31 caregivers, predominantly female, married state, with complete secondary education, income between two and three minimum wages, time of exercise of the function over 12 months, most of them informal caregivers and with family relationship with elderly. Caregivers acknowledged the importance of a caregiver and found the elderly under their care as healthy. CONCLUSIONS: Most caregivers were informal type, characterized by women with family ties, which emphasized patience and lack of knowledge as the main difficulties of the caregiver. Data from this study are limited to a local reality, requiring further research to foster the particularities and difficulties faced by caregivers.
Public Health; Teaching; Delivery of Health Care; Caregivers; Aged
