PURPOSE: to value aphasics' caregivers quality of life using the "Caregiver Burden Questionnaire (Burden Interview - Zarit)". METHODS: thirty aphasics' caregivers, of both genders, answered twentytwo questions of the questionnaire, and were attended in a clinic-school at a Speech Therapy University located in the western part of São Paulo state. Besides, the following details were collected: gender; age; school education; time working as caregivers; degree of relationship aphasic-caregiver; difficulties faced during the aphasics' treatment; the type of aphasia that the person under their cares has (and associated attacks). Such variables were analyzed in order to check how they were influencing the burden and, in addition to the relation between the general score of the questionnaire and the question answered by the caregivers valuing their own burden. RESULTS: we found that the variables "relationship" and "difficulties faced during the aphasic treatment" are related to the caregiver's burden, although the higher burdens were found in caregivers who take care of aphasics showing severe linguistic compromising and become easily irritated when they are not understood. In terms of relationship, aphasic's parents are those who feel more burdens, followed by the spouses, children and brothers. CONCLUSION: the results showed that the aphasic's caregivers shows physical and emotional burden, being of extreme importance knowing their necessities, to better assist and guide them, trying to minimize the burden and improving quality of life.
Public Health; Quality of Life; Stroke; Aphasia; Language
