The experience of home care during the death process: the point-of-view of family care-givers

a perspectiva de familiares cuidadores

Abstract

This is the study of an ethnographic case which had the objective of understanding the experience of family members providing daily care in the home setting to a sick relative who has no therapeutic chance of cure. Sixteen informers, all women aged 29 to 83 years old, resident in Greater Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, helped in the study. Data was collected from August to November 2002. The data showed 14 cultural descriptors, 3 sub-themes and the central theme of the study. The theoretical pillars used to collect and analyze the data were Leininger and Spradley.