This dissertation analyzes the meanings attributed to care by professionals from the Specialized Reference Center for Social Assistance (CREAS) Maria Lina de Castro Lima, inserted in family dynamics of long-term care for the elderly. This is a research with a qualitative approach, whose main instrument for data production consisted of narrative interviews, held in December 2019, with five professionals as children and / or nephews of an elderly person who needs support affective, material or financial. The analysis of the data obtained was done through the method of interpretation of meanings, making it possible to identify the research subjects perceptions about the challenges, possibilities, inequalities, agreements and concessions when performing this task. Among the results achieved, it was found that, if on one hand the feeling of reciprocity stood out as one of the motivations for performing this function, on the other hand, obligation was also comprehended as one of the reasons expressed. In addition, it was noticed the relevance for the interviewees in preserving the autonomy of this family member. The results were analyzed from the theoretical foundations that based this study, considering the main categories of analysis - family, gender and care - that guided the research.