Chronic renal disease and dialytic treatment are a great problem for a sick person and their family, altering their living habits. These changes demand effort, dedication and adaptation in life routine of the family members. It was aimed at in this study to identify the main demands and resources of the family in living and caring for people with diabetic nephropathy. This is a qualitative research, guided by the assumptions of the Calgary Model of Family Evaluation, carried out with seven families in two renal therapy units in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The results of the research were presented as demands and resources, based on sets of beliefs and values that intervene in facing the disease. The data obtained suggest that each researched family has resources, even as they are faced by health demands, which shows the need for looking at the family as a focus of nursing care.
Nefropatias Diabéticas; Diálise Renal; Família; Enfermagem
