"(De)Caring" as an obligation:

caregivers social representations on caring for stroke victims

Abstract

Caring for a stroke survivor with sequelae almost always requires a comprehensive care. This situation generates work overload that results in emotional distress and imbalance of the health/disease process. In this context this study aims at identifying and analysing the social representations of stroke victims caregivers on the care provided. This is an exploratory and descriptive research using a qualitative approach. The case study method and the Social Representations Theory were used to analyse the reported contents. A total of 20 home caregivers were interviewed, and their reports were organized for analysis. The main ideas represented were, as follows: desocializing effect of the disease; accumulation of sequelae; anguish; suffering during caring process; dependence generated by the disease; caregiver’s sense of disability regarding the care provided. A survey of these ideas allowed the consolidation of four major thematic units, namely: the flaws in stroke patient care; the more the sequelae, the more the attention; stroke desocializing fator; sequelae, anguish and their implications in the care provided. The study contributed to the characterization of the care to the individual with stroke sequelae as an arduous task: the representations given by the interviewed caregivers were anchored in the idea of exhaustion, in the recipient’s view. This fact could unbalance the caring provided so in this context nurses should promote the caregivers’ involvement in preparation for the hospital discharge.