Families of individuals who are in need of care: changing aspects in their daily life

Abstract

The importance of a family for the society is noticed along the history in a peculiar way. This study has the purpose to discuss aspects that characterize changes in the daily life of families that live with individuals who need physical care, analyzed from the Maffesolian epistemology point of view. A qualitative research applying Michel Maffesoli's theoretical-methodological referential, who uses Formism as a methodological tool, was carried out. Four family groups that lived with an adult individual, who needed physical care, took part in the study. Data were collected from July to December, 2004, in the individual’s home using the interview and focal group techniques. The results present the changes of behavior and feelings, being the highlight the aspects that present the disease as a conducting wire of closeness in the family group; the changes in the economical profile, at the work, on the studies, on the leisure time, and also in the physical structure of the house which happens as a consequence of the dependence; and, the families were organized for the care, quitting work or making arrangements at the job, hiring maid, and even developing and improving abilities. It was noticed that the presence of the illness in a family leads the group to changes in the way of living and to find ways to face it and find adjustment in the family.