Behavioral changes of elderly with Alzheimer's Disease and the burden of care for the caregiver Mudanças de comportamento em idosos com Doença de Alzheimer e sobrecarga para o cuidador Cambios en el comportamiento de las personas mayores con enfermedad de Alzheimer y la carga para el cuidador

Objective: Identify key behavior changes in elderly with Alzheimers Disease, and distinctions on the burden of care imposed on the caregiver. Method: Research process was guided by Grounded Theory using semi structured interviews as primary technique for data collection with twenty five caregivers of elderly with Alzheimers Disease. Results: Compromised safety due to contact with fire and wandering behavior, was reported by 80% of the caregivers. Half of the elderly receiving care provided by the participants required constant supervision and protection. Conclusion: Behavioral changes of elderly with Alzheimers Disease have emotional impact, result in stressful situations, and affect caregiversquality of life. Compromised safety resulted in overload of functions, suffering and fear to participant caregivers. Among the implications to nurses is the demand for partnership geared towards protective care planning, aimed at managing behavior changes.