Los primeros momentos del cuidado familiarel proceso de convertirse en persona cuidadora de un familiar mayor dependiente

Abstract

Family is often in charge of the care of an elderly dependent person. The aim of this thesis is to explore the initial experiences of people who suddenly become caregivers of dependent older relatives and try to describe the process they go through. An original research has been carried out in the province of Jaén, through in-depth interviews, and a qualitative metasynthesis of 16 international studies. The analysis was carried out following the Grounded Theory’s procedures. The findings show that the process of becoming a family caregiver develops in three phases: taking on the role, beginning to realise and implementing strategies.The description of this process improves the understanding of the experience of becoming a family caregiver, both for the health professional and for family caregivers.