A Conceptual Framework for Caring for Families of Hospice Patients

Family support for hospice caregivers

“…The findings revealed similarities and differences in the reports of the two groups, thus supporting the need to examine responses of more than one family member in assessing how the family system responds to stress. 16,32 First, primary caregivers and other family members identified as supporting the caregiver agreed that the primary caregiver assumed most of the burden of caregiving, but other members of the family network also participated in care of the dying family member. The same family members were mentioned by both groups as being supportive prior to and after the death.…”

“…Practitioners who work with hospice patients and their families, including social workers, nurses, and clergy, can use a family systems approach to assess the potentials and capabilities of the family system that will serve as a helpful guide for interventions aimed at assisting the primary caregiver. 16 Practitioners involved in hospice work need to assess the family care system, both initially and periodically, help make families more aware of primary caregivers' needs, and perhaps encourage other family members to spend more time with the dying loved one in order to relieve the primary caregiver. 2,6 Likewise, hospice workers can encourage the primary caregiver, who may be reluctant to seek out assistance, to ask for and use this help.…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12] Theoretical perspectives Two major theoretical perspectives informed the study: social support theory 13,14 and family systems theory. [15][16][17] General systems theory holds that it is important to look at any institution, either formal or informal, from a systemwide perspective, and every element of the system interacts with and influences other elements. The sum of the elements, along with their combined interactions, forms a whole that is greater than its individual elements.…”

“…15,17 Seen from this perspective, the family is an adaptive unit with resources for the development and change of its members, and disturbances to the family system or family equilibrium affect the whole family, not just an individual family member. 15,16,18 Thus, caring for a dying family member will affect all members of the family and every dimension of family functioning.…”