Burden, coping strategies, and family caregivers of older people with clinical frailty in the COVID-19 context.

OBJECTIVES: to assess the burden and understand the coping strategies of family caregivers of older people with clinical frailty in the household. METHODS: a mixed-method cross-sectional study with a two-stage explanatory sequential strategy was conducted. In the quantitative stage, 170 participants answered the socio-contextual questionnaire, EMEP and QASCI. In the qualitative stage, 31 participants answered a semi-structured interview, using Bardin's framework. RESULTS: sample profile: 82% women aged 50-69 (65.9%). 56.5% had family help with care and 57.6% had no professional caregiver. The 31 interviews generated three categories: "caregiver burden", "coping strategies", and "support network to promote care". CONCLUSIONS: caring for older people with clinical frailty triggers changes in family structure and dynamics, causing burden, which can be reduced with an effective family and professional support network as a coping strategy.