Adoptar el rol de cuidador familiar de forma inesperada, un cambio drástico.

Abstract

Introduction: Advances in science and technology have allowed the survival of people admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), some of them with a prolonged stay in the critical area. Upon returning home, they present physical, mental and cognitive alterations that make them dependent on care, requiring a family caregiver upon returning home. Objective: To understand the meaning of adopting the role of family caregiver of the person with a prolonged stay in the ICU upon returning home. Method: Qualitative study, using grounded theory tools. Carried out in the city of Medellin, Colombia, from November 2021 to December 2022. 12 semi-structured interviews were applied to 10 family caregivers of people who had suffered a severe acute event, with prolonged hospitalization in the ICU. The coding, open, axial and selective, the elaboration of analytical memos, diagrams and theoretical sampling, were fundamental in the analysis. Results: At the time of hospital discharge, the family caregiver considers that assuming care is difficult and complicated, since he must face something new, this makes his life change drastically from one moment to the next. Conclusions: Exercising the role of caregiver entails changes in the life of the person caring for, the resignations that must be made are frequent and these occur in the physical, emotional, social and work dimensions. It is also necessary to make modifications in the care environment, and in this sense, in addition to the caregiver the depend.