[Understanding the seriously ill patient and his family at the domiciliary reality]

The purpose of this study is to understand the reality of living with a seriously ill patient, from the point of view of the carer family member. We have contacted families who cared for seriously ill family members at home. Our intent was to understand the essence of the meaning of this situation for the carer family member. This was a qualitative study that relied on the theoretical and methodological framework of phenomenology. Thematic categories emerged from the careful analysis of testimonies of the carer family member, pointing to the essence of the day-to-day experience of providing this care.