The process of taking care of seniors with cerebral vascular accident: relatives’ feelings - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v26i1.1614

Abstract

Aging is not an exclusive phenomenon of developed countries, but also of developing countries. Thus, the family must have knowledge and abilities to prevent or to minimize the effects of aging and also of pathologies as the CVA. The aim is to identify the relatives' feelings involved in taking care of the seniors and to analyze them according to the Theory of Social Representations. This descriptive, qualitative study was performed in the CVA seniors' homes, in Itabuna-BA, from July 2000 to July 2001. The data, collected through semi-structured interview, were analyzed according to the content analysis proposed by Bardin. The subjects are shown to be involved in a group of feelings that involve retribution, love, satisfaction, fear, sadness, grieves, blame, anguish, insecurity, nervousness and impatience when they take care of their senior relatives. Thus, we hope to contribute to the reflection on taking care of seniors in the home and the nursing engagement in the orientation and the relative's technical preparation for the home care.