[For better, for worse. A study of women caring for relatives]

Eight women who all were engaged in care for a relative of some kind were interviewed. The women were of different age. The conclusions drawn from this case study are mainly of a hypothesis-generating character. Knowing a lot about few people facilitates an exposition of possible relations. Some of the women performed extensive and forgoing efforts, often unsalaried. Caregiving relatives in such a situation is a group at risk from a health political perspective. Wives living together with the care subject their husband, seem to be especially exposed to risk. It is an important task for the social services to be aware of the vulnerable situation for the caregiving relatives. The analysis of caregiving situations is made at three levels--the valuation, the practical action and the experience. No absolute relationship between these three levels could be found. Three mechanisms seem to be important for the experience of the caregiver, namely the incentives for making these efforts, the autonomy and being visible.