Introduction:

an increase of dependent people for various reasons, conditions the need for an informal caregiver at their side; so, it is necessary that they have a basic knowledge level to contribute to the life quality of such patients.

Objective:

to characterize the informal caregiver of the bedridden patient in the community.

Method:

a cross-sectional study was conducted in “Pedro Del Toro Saad” health área, Holguín, Cuba, in the period from October 2017 to March 2018. The universe was 60 informal caregivers and the intentional sample, 40.

Results:

97% of the informal caregivers are women with an average age of 60 years, 32% reached their basic studies, 52% are housewives, 72% perceive they are in a bad economic situation; 100% of informal caregivers received home visits by the core team, predominantly nursing care. 60% took part in trainings conducted by the health centre. 55% showed some overload degree, according to Zarit Burden Interview, and 55% were possible cases of depression, according to Goldberg subscale. 33% have been informal caregivers for more than 10 years.

Conclusions:

caregivers are women, housewives, financially weak, a significant number of whom have completed their basic education. 100% received home visit, mostly from the nurse, prior to the implementation of the instrument; more than 50% showed overload and possible depression. Some of them have been caregivers between 1 and 5 years while others, more than 10.

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