[Caregivers of dependent elderly at home: changes in family relationships]

The study aimed to identify, in the view of the caretaker, the changes that happened in the family relationships after a dependence generator event on aged person, and the factors that provoked it. It is a field study with a qualitative approach. It was carried out recorded interviews with eight family caregivers, during home visits, with guiding questions and observations being recorded in a field diary. The content analysis of Bardin was applied, being constructed categories and subcategories. The familiar union preexisting to the dependence situation predisposes positive changes, favored with formal and informal support. The family caregiver burden due to lack of support, age and activities of caregiving, leads to negative situations in the family. The effectiveness of public policies to provide formal support for the elderly and their caregivers, and the creation of support groups, may contribute to the family wellbeing.