La experiencia del cuidado de las mujeres cuidadoras con procesos crónicos de salud de familiares dependientes

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of women caregivers with chronic conditions who care for a dependent relative. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on constructivist grounded theory. LOCATION: Study conducted on two Health Areas urban of the Community of Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty nine women with a chronic condition who take care of dependent relatives were selected by means of purposive sampling. METHOD: Data were collected through 23 semi-structured interviews and 2 focus groups between April 2010 and December 2011. Grounded theory procedures were used in the data analysis. RESULTS: To feel their life hampered describes the subjective experience of family caregivers with chronic conditions who take care of a dependent relative. When comparing their past life with the current life they become aware of the losses they have suffered over time. They feel less strong, sadder and less free; they worry about how to meet the demands of family care. The life they are leading makes them question the meaning of their own lives. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the losses realized day by day by women caregivers with a chronic illness, which lead them to lose the meaning of their own lives. To know the experience of these women caregivers will help develop interventions and specific services that compensate for the losses they feel and help improve their quality of living.