[Benefits of a community physical exercise program prescribed from primary care for perimenopausal/menopausal women]. / Beneficios de un programa de ejercicio físico comunitario prescrito desde Atención Primaria en la salud de mujeres perimenopáusicas/menopaúsicas.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the benefits of a physical exercise program in a community, through the modifications in quality of life, and perimenopausal-menopausal women physical condition. SETTING: The participants were recruited in PC consultations from two health centers in Molina de Segura (Murcia). PARTICIPANTS: Women between 40 and 70 years old, or under 40 of age diagnosed with early menopause. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study, non-randomized, controlled, open and single-center with 2 parallel branches to study. INTERVENTION: Experimental group: ACTIVA Bone Health Program for six months. CONTROL: inactive. MAIN MEASUREMENTS IN BOTH GROUPS: The SF 36 questionnaire was used to measure the Quality of life. PHYSICAL CONDITION: Aerobic condition, flexibility, balance and strength measured with the mile, flamenco, flexibility box tests, and throwing the medicine ball, respectively. Physical activity level through the GPPAQ Questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables were collected and the adherence to the program was measured. RESULTS: The quality of life improved in the intervention group compared to the control group, except «Body Pain¼ dimension (p = 0.412). As regards the intragroup level, all dimensions showed significant improvement except both «Physical Function¼ (p = 0.263) and «Body Pain¼ (p = 0.136). The physical capacities that benefited most were aerobic fitness, strength and balance. CONCLUSIONS: The Active Bone Health Physical Exercise Program piloting showed benefits on participants' physical and mental quality of life. In addition, it has been shown that performing a specific physical exercise for premenopausal-menopausal women improves their physical condition.

"Turning to one's own world": escape mechanisms employed by immigrant caregivers in Spain for relieving the burden of care.

PURPOSE: Although past research has focused on the coping strategies of family caregivers, how immigrant caregivers cope with the demands of caregiving remains unknown. This study examines the strategies immigrant caregivers use to relieve the burden of care. METHOD: A qualitative study based on 17 immigrant women caregivers using purposive and snowball sampling was done. Semistructured interviews and testimonies were obtained and analyzed using grounded theory procedures. FINDINGS: Turning to one's world describes how caregivers seek relief from the burden of care. They escape virtually, go to a private place, make those they care for their own, and decide to go home. These mechanisms enable them to escape from the world of caregiving in which they find themselves. DISCUSSION: Findings reveal the significance of family connections and networks for immigrants to achieve burden relief. IMPLICATIONS: The importance of promoting positive working environments and raising awareness about immigrant caregivers' need for rest.

[Immigrant caregivers: characteristics of the care provided to dependent elders]. / Cuidadoras inmigrantes: características del cuidado que prestan a la dependencia.

In Spain, care in dependency has traditionally fallen to family members but this situation is changing. The existence of a model based on the family's contribution used to enable dependent elders to remain at home; however, social changes such as the crisis of the informal caregiving system, which has been extensively discussed in the literature is leading to the collapse of this situation. In an attempt to respond to this crisis, society has resorted to contracting immigrant women to carry out family care. Responsibility and caregiving is thus transferred to these women and is financially remunerated. Thus, family caregiving of the elderly provided by immigrants is presented as an important resource for care. The care of dependent elderly individuals is often the only opportunity for immigrant women who arrive in Spain in search of better conditions to become incorporated into the labor market. The dispersion of studies on immigrant care highlights the invisibility of this phenomenon. Based on a literature review, the present study highlights the situation of the family care provided by immigrant women and outlines the characteristics of this type of care. The relationship between caregiving and the conditions in which this care takes place is described. Given their situation, immigrant caregivers have a heavy burden of care and limited respite from caregiving responsibilities.