Assessment of Family

Functionality Among the

Elderly With Chronic
Illness
THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF
COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY, VOL 2,
NO 2 (2013)
 INTRODUCTION
Situations of chronic health
problems can compromise the
functional capacity and
independence of the elderly thus
making them dependent on a
caregiver.
 MATERIAL AND
METHODS
A cross-sectional, non-experimental,
descriptive correlational study was
conducted, with a non-probability sample of
convenience consisting of a total of 294
elderly men and women living in the district
of Viseu - Portugal, patients of the primary
health care unit in their area of residence.
 CRITERIA INCLUSION &
EXCLUSION
Criteria for inclusion were age, 65 years old or
more and their presence in the health care unit,
and the criteria for exclusion were in cases of
disabling psychiatric disease or dementia.
 FAMILY APGAR
This is a 5-question assessment tool used for rapid
assessment of family function and dysfunction.
It measures an individuals level of satisfaction about
family relationships.
 FAMILY APGAR
Adaptation- the ability of a family to use and share
inherent resources which can be either intra- or extra-
familial
Partnership- the sharing of decision making which
measures the satisfaction of solving problems through
communicating
Growth- pertains to both physical and emotional
aspects and measures the satisfaction of the freedom to
change
Affection- emotions that are shared with and between
family members which measures the satisfaction with
the intimacy and emotional interaction that exist in the
family
Resolve- refers to how time, money, and space are
shared; this measures the satisfaction with the
commitment made by members of the family
 FAMILY APGAR
There are 4 basic situations wherein the Family
APGAR is needed:
When the family is directly involved in caring for
the patient.
When treating a new patient in order to get
information to serve as general view of family
function
When treating a patient whose family is in crisis.
When a patients behavior makes you suspect a
psychosocial problem possibly due to family
dysfunction.
 FAMILY APGAR
QUESTIONNAIRE
Helps define the degree of the patients satisfaction
or dissatisfaction with family function
 Almost Some Hardly
always of the ever
(2) time (0)
(1)

A I am satisfied that I can turn to my

family for help when something is
troubling me.

P I am satisfied with the way my

family talks about things with me
and shares problems with me.
I am satisfied that my family
G accepts and supports my wishes to
take on new activities or directions.
I am satisfied with the way my
A family expresses affection and
responds to my emotions such as
anger, sorrow, and love.
I am satisfied with the way my
R family and I share time together.
 FAMILY APGAR

Scoring:
8-10 points = highly functional
family
4-7 points = moderately
dysfunctional family
0-3 points = severely dysfunctional
family
RESULT
 CONCLUSION
There is a statistically significant relationship
between the family APGAR and the presence of
chronic illness.
98.1% of the elderly who have chronic diseases
classified their family as being severely
dysfunction.
No statistical significance between the family
APGAR and gender, age, marital status and
educational level.