The needs of the family members' caregivers

Autores: Maria Zita Castelo Branco

Resumen comunicacion:

The caregivers are people, more women than men, who dedicate themselves to the important daily activity of taking care of people who are dependent or permanently incapacitated.
 

The aim of this study is to deepen the understanding concerning the family care received by terminal cancer patients, as well as to identify guidance models for the intervention of the nursing staff towards the terminal
cancer patient's family member caregiver. A simple descriptive study was carried out, including 48 family members of cancer patients in the terminal phase, and the Day Hospital of a Hospital Centre. The tools for gathering information were a form, the Karnofsky scale, the APGAR family scale and the subjective evaluation questionnaire of the situation of the family caregivers (CADI) (Carer's Assessment of Difficulties Index).

The needs that have been identified can be contextualized within the great dimensions of the human being: the physical, affectionate, relational and intellectual dimensions.

The following perceived needs of the family members' caregivers have been identified by using Virginia Henderson's conceptual model:

• the need for sleeping and resting;

• the need for additional information;

• the need for communicating with the family member and with the health professional;

• the need for having fun and for spending more time with the family and friends;

• emotional needs