The aim of this article is to describe the inter-relation and communication regarding sectors of health care, under the perspective of family caregivers of chronic patients with a disease which causes disability. It is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, with 11 family caregivers registered in a Family Health Strategy in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. Family caregivers were indicated by the health care team. Data collection happened from July to September of 2010 and was developed through narrative interviews, oriented by guiding themes. Thematic content analysis was carried out and the categories which emerged from such analysis concerned communication and interpersonal relationships among professionals, family caregivers and patients, and the interface among the health care sectors. The need of effective communication among the health care sectors is highlighted, allowing them to act together, enabling an exchange of knowledge that may help throughout the process of facing the disease.
Nursing; Chronic disease; Home nursing; Caregivers; Communication