[Family caregivers and the transition process: a literature review]

Current demographic trends allied with the increase of chronic diseases grant family caregivers a more active role in the health system. The purpose of this article is to know the state of art in terms of role acquisition and preparation of family caregivers in order to take better care ofa dependent person. This literature review is based on electronic research (EBSCO and ELSEVIER) and manual research (Porto College of Nurse library). Increasing early hospital discharges lead to the adoption of caregiver role, within a short time, and thus difficult the process of transition and adaptation. Caregivers frequently have inadequate preparation, since their capacities to perform the caregiver's role are rarely evaluated. Besides, the adoption of caregiver's role often occurs in conditions that cannot allow an informed choice, nor the awareness of the true implications inherent in the role of taking care. To understand the process of adaptation lived by family caregivers is fundamental for nurses.