Qualitative study that used case study and content analysis. Originally aimed to grasp the meaning of home care, in the perception of health of the family, and their interactions with family caregivers of elderly dependents. This paper aims to present the experience in home care and the difficulties from the viewpoint of family health professionals. It was conducted in the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Aço, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, in the cities of Ipatinga, Timóteo, Coronel Fabriciano and Santana do Paraíso. There were 54 teams registered in the region and the sample comprised 75 family health workers, nursing assistants, nurses, doctors and nurses, who agreed to participate in the study, signed the Informed Consent and were part of the staff for over one year after approval by the city manager. The results indicated that, according to the team’s experience, home care for dependent elderly is performed when they are in a more advanced stage of impaired functional capacity. The subjects reported hindering the increased demand of USF, inadequate transport and incomplete team, and still feel unprepared for this care. There is the need for investment of managers in the continuing education of family health team in the area of geriatrics and gerontology for professionals to help them meet the needs of this growing elderly population, which may develop weakness and compromise their autonomy and independence.
Home Nursing; Fragile Elderly; Family Health