"The disease entails a great change in the family unit and requires great efforts," said Nuria Esandi, professor at School of Nursing at the University of Navarra and expert in the care of people with Alzheimer's disease and their families, during the session she gave on Strategies for evaluation and Family Intervention in Nursing at the Tecnun School of Engineering in San Sebastian. 

In the session, oriented to nursing profiles of internship Advanced and management, Esandi has underlined that: "the disease breaks the logic of the vital events of a family and alters the normal functioning of group. Moreover, the family changes its configuration and becomes a Caregiver Family".

In addition, she pointed out that "if caring for a family is a constant burden, it is almost impossible for its members to find meaning and gratification in the new status care. Hence, the nursing professional becomes a fundamental support, as guide and support for the family, helping them to cope with the new status through the resources and strengths available to each family".

Esandi warned that families react in different ways when faced with an illness: "in our research we have found families that become stronger and others that become ill, as they are unable to manage and organize the new status". The concept of Sustainable Family Caregiver makes reference letter to that "family that can play its role of caregiver, and at the same time is able to carry out its vital family project , is able to continue with its own life, based on its family strengths and using those resources that positively reinforce the task of caring".

He also stressed that, "in order for families to be able to make this vital transition, and to be able to continue caring while feeling satisfied with their care status , we nursing professionals must be able to help them".

Therapeutic conversation

During the session, a practical workshop was held for staff nurses on how to carry out a Family evaluation , through the Therapeutic Conversation and using tools such as the Genogram and the Ecomap. Esandi has highlighted that for the good development of the Therapeutic Conversation it is essential, among other things, to show respect and understanding to the family, call the family members by name, invite them to ask questions and openly express their concerns, maintain an active listening, and praise the family, that is, identify and recognize their strengths, resources and competences.

The session has been framed within an event of the Master's Degree in Advanced internship and management in Nursing of the School, oriented to train professionals who acquire competences of management health in the organization, management of processes and Personnel Management Service.