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Exploratory, cross-sectional, descriptive study with quantitative approach, whose objectives was to identify how satisfied the mother is with her family, as well as family functioning related to infant chronic condition. The study included 59 mothers and one caregiver (grandmother) of children with a chronic condition. The study was conducted at Hospital Universitario Materno Infantil (HUMI), Clinica Escola Santa Edwiges da Associacao de Pais e Amigos de Excepcionais (APAE) and support houses for families and patients under treatment at the Hospital do Aparelho Locomotor (SARAH) from August to October 2010. For data collection, the Family APGAR instrument was applied through personal contact with the caregiver. After collection, data was tabbed at an Excel sheet. Total APGAR score was based on descriptive statistics to classify the familiar structure of evaluated caregivers. Results showed that 53.3% of the families were classified as functional and 46.7% as dysfunctional. Of these, 82.1% had mild dysfunction and 17.9% severe dysfunction. The application of Family APGAR allowed mothers to identify essential features to the family functioning. Awareness of these aspects allows nurses to plan care in an expanded perspective, involving the child and family.

Nowadays he phenomenon observed in life prolongation among elders with 80 or more years of age, is no longer exceptional. However, that condition is usually associated with fragility due to aging turning the elderly more vulnerable to several circumstances of his life, becoming a substratum from elders in the fourth age who often need care from others. Thus, the aim is to understand families functioning patterns on their daily basis and daily care of the elderly in the context of Florianopolis, SC. Descriptive evaluative diagnosis research, using the method of questioning, had the participation of seniors of 80 years old and over dependent on care along with family caregiver that were selected among the ones registered at the Family Health Program, in order to assess family dynamics, by Family APGAR, quality of life by WHOQOL and life style by Nahas Scale. Results : The elderly rated their families with good functionality. But, it must be considered with reservations, because on both quality of life evaluations from the elderly and the caregiver, responses were related to an average level, denoting some difficulty on coping within the family regarding care to the elderly.