This study sought to understand the impact of incapacitating illness on the families of stroke victims, investigating the changes of a structural, social and emotional nature. Nine families of patients with a first episode of stroke, identified from the general disease records of Hospital São Rafael, Salvador, Bahia, were analyzed. Data gathering was by means of applying a questionnaire, guided interview and functional evaluation scale and through field diary observations. The data analysis method was collective subject discourse, thus producing social representations and transforming the words of the study subjects into a single line of discourse. It was observed that occurrences of stroke are experiences marked by brusque transformations in the day-to-day life of families and in the lives of each of their members. The results indicate the need to capacitate families to care for the patient and for their own self-care.
Family relationships; Stroke; Disease impact profile