[Dependence level of elderly and care in the household scope]

The functional inability influences directly the life of the elderly and their family, requiring the presence of a caregiver. The objectives of this study were to identify the dependency level of the elderly in the household and comprehending the caregiver's perceptions on the current caring. A descriptive study, with quantitative and qualitative approach, accomplished with 12 families of a cases management program. Katz's Index was used for dependency level. The caregivers were interviewed. The biggest dependency of the elderly is related to hygiene, dressing themselves and transfering. Three categories emerged out of the content analysis: the everyday routine of caretaking; the participants of care; the caregiver, the elderly and the care.