Paternalismo do cuidador e autonomia do idoso no serviço de atenção domiciliar.

Abstract

Due to the drop in birth and death rates, global population aging has been increasing on a large scale. In Brazil, the estimate is that, by the year 2050, the elderly population will reach 21.87% of the Brazilian population. Aging leads to changes in the epidemiological characteristics of the population and a more intensive search for health services, therefore, it is necessary to build care alternatives in the face of these challenges. The care provided to elderly people depends on many factors, including the physical and psychological conditions of the elderly person, as well as the caregiver's view of aging and their care skills. From the caregiver's perspective, paternalistic or person-centered care practices can emerge. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate how caregiver paternalism occurs and its repercussions on the autonomy of elderly people monitored by the Home Care Service (SAD) in Fortaleza-CE. This is field research, with a qualitative, exploratory approach. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 6 elderly people and their caregivers. Data were collected at the patients' homes, between the months of November and December 2023. Based on the coding process of Bardin's content analysis (2016), 03 thematic categories and their consequences were obtained: 1) Perception of the family caregiver about the care provided to the elderly; 2) Paternalistic practices of family caregivers in caring for the elderly; 3) Repercussions of the caregiver's paternalism on the elderly's autonomy. The main results point to a paternalistic care practice. This practice is characterized by overprotective attitudes, compromising the elderly's autonomy process. This directs us to reflect on the importance of care that stimulates the autonomy of the elderly, seeking to understand them based on their subjectivity, preserving their dignity, thus guaranteeing quality of life for this population. Keywords: Paternalism. Aging process. Family care. Elderly autonomy.