Objective:

To know the factors that contribute to the conformation of family arrangements with the elderly.

Materials and methods:

Qualitative research, based on the theoretical reference of Symbolic Interactionism. Nineteen relatives of elderly people enrolled in a family health unit, from a municipality in the State of Bahia, Brazil, collaborated. Selection was intentional and determined by saturation index. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview script in the year 2015 and analyzed based on the thematic content analysis.

Results:

Outlined the following categories: avoid the loneliness of the elderly; financial difficulties of family members; needs to care for the elderly; and grandparents and as caregivers to grandchildren.

Conclusion:

The arrangements of relatives with elderly people are responsible for transfers of support, resources and care between the generations, being a reality experienced by low income families. It is also important to emphasize the need of health professionals, especially nursing professionals, to recognize the challenges faced by the family in meeting the demands of care of the elderly, encouraging them to include families as the object of their work.

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