Overview

The process of demographic and epidemiological transition, followed by the progressive increase in the number of elderly people, points to a new reality: the need for elderly family caregivers. This study allowed us to understand how elderly family caregivers experience the process of caring for an elderly family member at home, even in the face of negative repercussions, such as the lack of family support, and the difficulties they experience on a daily basis, such as the lack of institutionalized support for caring for others. Regardless of whether or not they have family or institutionalized support, caregivers find "empowerment" to face the challenges of being a family caregiver on a daily basis, through religiosity/spirituality. At this stage of life, there is a change in perspective from a materialistic and pragmatic view of the world to a cosmic and transcendent one. While they seek support from a metaphysical force, the elderly use religious-spiritual coping to face the situations that arise in their lives, attributing to the sacred the strength to persevere and continue on their path, growing old and caring for one or more other elderly people at home.