Objective: To describe the quality of life of family caretakers of adults with sequelae of cerebrovascular stroke accident in Cartagena, Colombia. Method: quantitative descriptive study conducted during the second half of 2008. Non-probabilistic convenience sample of 97 caregivers. The instrument proposed by Ferrell et al has been used. In order to assess each of the welfare indicators which make up for the quality of life, central trend measures and variation coefficient have been used. Results: the caretaker group registered a fitness average of 11.1 compared to the maximum score, which indicates the worst health status; psychological and social indicators of welfare had averages of 48.8 and 21.9, respectively, showing thus less impact. The best health status was found in spiritual welfare indicators, with an average of 22.6. Conclusions: The experience of working as a caretaker significantly modifies the quality of life of individuals. Caretakers, as an important source of informal care, require support from health systems and so do professionals in nursing as parts of said health systems.