Post-informal caregiver's perspectives and experiences of the support network: a systematic literature review and meta-synthesis.

Abstract

Objective: To examine and synthesize the evidence of experiences and perspectives on the specific context of informal post-care and the existing support network.

Method: This is a qualitative systematic review with metasynthesis, according to the framework of the JBI, carried out in the CINAHL, LILACS, MEDLINE, BVS and PsycINFO databases, with no time limit. The articles were evaluated using the JBI Qualitative Data Extraction Tool. A total of 1,236 articles was identified, of which 18 were selected and 7 were analyzed. The level of evidence found was moderate.

Results: The experiences and perspectives of the informal post-caregiver reveal the need for support, namely: in personal development - attribution of meaning, in self-care perspectives and in identity reconstruction; in managing the impact of the legacy of caring - discontinuity of support in the trajectory of caring, financial vulnerability, and the impact on mental health; formal and informal resources for the future - projection of the future, structured services and family and community support.

Conclusion: Post-caregivers' perception of their support network is that their individual and interpersonal needs are not identified, and that formal and informal services are not articulated.