Consequences of a physical-recreational program for informal caregivers of post-confinement cerebral palsy

Abstract

Informal caregivers of people with cerebral palsy (due to their responsibilities) often have diverse and interrelated needs. In turn, those same needs can be modified positively and negatively, thanks to various associated factors; for example, the Covid-19. Knowing the particularities of these specific needs makes it possible to make prospective political and strategic decisions that could

improve the lifestyle of both the caregiver and the patient. That is why the objective of this work is: to determine the main needs of informal caregivers of people with cerebral palsy, after implementing an intervention program with physical-recreational exercises. For its scope, a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was applied. 240 mothers of families of people with cerebral palsy are interviewed after completing a physical-recreational program. All the families intervened gave their informed, verbal and written consent. As a result, it was determined that: after the 2020 lockdown, access to health services was limited due to the pandemic, and complications increased for people with cerebral palsy and their families in socioeconomic, mental, emotional and physical health. The pandemic aggravated access to public health, making it necessary to implement education programs for family members for their health and quality of life. This study can serve as a theoretical foundation for future decision-making related to the implementation of specialized intervention actions, with a view to reducing the problems associated with the informal care of patients with cerebral palsy.