Ways of taking care of the family in the paradigm of desinstitutionalization: from utopia to reality

Abstract

Caring for the family of the bearer of a mental problem has been discussed in the last years, and this is due to the paradigm change in the psychiatry area. This study had the purpose to present some considerations on the care provided to the family of the mentally disturbed individual, and to propose a direction for the increment of a real care to such family. A bibliographical study, which evaluated 41 studies of the Nursing and Medicine, was accomplished. In the analysis, some interpretations led to affirm that there is no model for taking care of a family because each family has its singularities, but there are some considerations that should be taken into account, such as: to value the strength of the family; to welcome the family when she looks for help; to value the healthy side of the mentally disturbed person, and to reinsert him in his social environment. Also, understand and value the spirituality of the family.