CareD

CareD is a Database of interviews conducted in the context of a research projet about caregiving facing illness.
The study aims to understand the profile of informal caregivers, analyze the
characteristics of care provision, and explore the strategies that informal caregivers adopt
to ensure care in the face of their own illness and/or disability. A qualitative methodology
was used, with a non-probabilistic sampling based on semi-structured interviews and
content analysis. Participated 10 informal caregivers, 80% of whom were women. The
results indicated that the profile of the informal caregiver is predominantly female, adult
or older adult, and living with the person being cared for. It was concluded that being an
informal caregiver involves several multidimensional impacts during the care process,
with the restriction of autonomy and freedom being the most frequently mentioned by the
sample. In situations of illness and/or disability of the caregiver, there is a particular
reinforcement of informal support, as well as new requests for support within the informal
network. This study contributes to exploring the challenges faced by caregivers when
they themselves are in a situation of illness and/or disability, as well as the challenges
related to the provision of care itself.