Knowing the importance of the caregivers and the care they need, the Support Group for Caregivers PROTEGE was created in the Oncological Palliative Care Unit of Barretos. This research aims to describe the experience and importance of this group from caregivers’ reports. We made use of the descriptive-qualitative method for collecting and analyzing data. The subjects were 18 caregivers of patients admitted to the Palliative Care/Pain Unit in Barretos. Those subjects attended the group during the hospitalization of the patients. The data was collected in April and June 2008, using an open question. The group was important for caregivers, since they felt welcomed and were able to adopt strategies to prevent stress and distress. We visualized the difficulties and transformations which the caregivers go through and situations that could be soothed when they are accepted, understood and adjusted.
Palliative care; caregiver; support group