Caring when the caregiver becomes ill: a qualitative analysis of the impacts and multidimensional challenges in informal caregiving.
- 1University of Coimbra, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and Faculty of Economics, Coimbra, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected] University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal [email protected].
- 2University of Coimbra, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. Researcher at the Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology and the Centre for Health Studies and Research of the University of Coimbra, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected] University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal [email protected].
Abstract
Introduction
Informal care has enormous societal relevance in southern European countries. The illness of carers casts a shadow of doubt over the caregiving process.Objective
To analyze the multidimensional impacts and challenges when informal carers face a situation of illness or incapacity.Materials and methods
A qualitative methodology was used, collecting data through semi-structured interviews and using categorical content analysis. The participating caregivers were recruited from the community through organizations.Results
10 informal carers participated, 9 women aged between 47 and 80 years old, who were family members and lived with the cared-for person. Two categories of analysis emerged: the impact on the informal carer and caring in a situation of illness or incapacity. The results showed impacts in the family, personal, social, work and financial life spheres, with restrictions on autonomy and freedom being highlighted. The carer's illness had implications for the provision of care, and there was a need to activate the informal support network, which was mainly family. There were also difficulties in accessing formal support.Discussion
Noteworthy the particularities of informal carers' experiences of illness, with increased difficulties compared to what other studies have shown in relation to informal care.Conclusion
The study contributes to highlighting the difficulties and needs of responding to and supporting carers who have fallen ill, posing challenges for social and health intervention in the community and for public policies.
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BibTeX
@article{durao2026caring,
title = {{Caring when the caregiver becomes ill: a qualitative analysis of the impacts and multidimensional challenges in informal caregiving.}},
author = {Inês Costa Durão and Sónia Guadalupe},
journal = {Revista Cuidarte},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.15649/cuidarte.5416},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923118},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Caring when the caregiver becomes ill: a qualitative analysis of the impacts and multidimensional challenges in informal caregiving.
AU - Inês Costa Durão
AU - Sónia Guadalupe
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Revista Cuidarte
DO - 10.15649/cuidarte.5416
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923118
AB - Introduction Informal care has enormous societal relevance in southern European countries. The illness of carers casts a shadow of doubt over the caregiving process.Objective To analyze the multidimensional impacts and challenges when informal carers face a situation of illness or incapacity.Materials and methods A qualitative methodology was used, collecting data through semi-structured interviews and using categorical content analysis. The participating caregivers were recruited from the community through organizations.Results 10 informal carers participated, 9 women aged between 47 and 80 years old, who were family members and lived with the cared-for person. Two categories of analysis emerged: the impact on the informal carer and caring in a situation of illness or incapacity. The results showed impacts in the family, personal, social, work and financial life spheres, with restrictions on autonomy and freedom being highlighted. The carer's illness had implications for the provision of care, and there was a need to activate the informal support network, which was mainly family. There were also difficulties in accessing formal support.Discussion Noteworthy the particularities of informal carers' experiences of illness, with increased difficulties compared to what other studies have shown in relation to informal care.Conclusion The study contributes to highlighting the difficulties and needs of responding to and supporting carers who have fallen ill, posing challenges for social and health intervention in the community and for public policies.
SN - 2216-0973
SN - 2346-3414
ER -