In the present study 50 old women interned in a medical treatment unity and their respective caregivers were studied. It was verified that most of the women preseted various dependencies and, threfore, they needed the presence of a caregiver for their survival. The caregivers, most of them female, belonged to the old women's family, had some scholarship degree and pointed out several difficulties en caring for the women. It is verified, consequently, that during hospitalization there is the need to take measures aiming at preparing the caregiver to take on the complex aid required by the old person, especially after hospital discharge.
Caregivers; Aged; Old age assistance
