Being cared for by the homecare service: a rich experience for the aids patient and his caregiver

uma rica experiência para o doente de AIDS e seu cuidador

Abstract

This is an ethnographic study which has the objective of understanding the experience of those who give care and are cared for in the Therapeutic Homecare Service (THS) of the Eduardo de Menezes Hospital. Seventeen informers of both genders aged 25-65 living in the city of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, informed the study. All the patients had AIDS and were cared for at home by the reference family caregiver. The data was collected through observation of the participants according to Leininger, with ethnographic interviews according to Spradley. The analysis of data obtained was based on Leininger's proposition for ethnographic research. From the analysis of the data, ten cultural descriptors emerged, that made it possible to identify the sub-themes: becoming sick with AIDS - a process that transforms life and relationships; THS provides humanized treatment with professional support, and hospitalization: a difficult and complex experience. These sub-themes constituted the support for the central theme: to be cared by THS: a rich experience for those who give care and those that are cared for. The reflections on the interviews, the sub-themes and the central theme were essential to deepen knowledge about beliefs, values, feelings and needs of those who give care and those who are cared for in the home environment and participated in this study. The anguish felt by the patients and their caregivers in the process of getting AIDS and the frequent hospitalizations led them to perceive THS as a source of support. The improved quality of life is attributed by the informers as a consequence of the care given by the family and by the THS team. All the informers considered themselves privileged in being able to be served by THS.