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Preparing for family caregiving in specialized palliative home care: An ongoing process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2014

Maja Holm ,
Anette Henriksson ,
Ida Carlander ,
Yvonne Wengström  and
Joakim Öhlen
Maja Holm*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Anette Henriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Capio Geriatrics, Palliative Care Unit, Dalens Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Ida Carlander
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Learning, Informatics, Management, and Ethics, Medical Management Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Yvonne Wengström
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden School of Health and Medical Sciences. Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
Joakim Öhlen
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Maja Holm, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

Family caregivers have been given increasing importance in palliative home care and face a great responsibility as caregivers for patients suffering from incurable illness. Preparedness for caregiving has been found to moderate negative effects and promote well-being in family caregivers. The aim of our study was to explore family caregivers' own experiences of preparing for caregiving in specialized palliative home care.

Method:

An interpretive descriptive design was chosen. A strategic sampling method was applied with a focus on participants who rated their preparedness as high and low using a structured instrument. Qualitative interviews were completed with 12 family caregivers. They were analyzed using a constant-comparative technique.

Results:

Family caregivers described their experience of preparing for caregiving as an ongoing process, rather than something done in advance. The process was illustrated through three subprocesses: “awaring” (realizing the seriousness of the situation), “adjusting” (managing a challenging situation), and “anticipating” (planning for the inevitable loss).

Significance of results:

Knowledge about the process of preparedness for caregiving and its subprocesses could be valuable to healthcare professionals, given the positive effects shown by preparedness in this context. Being able to recognize the different subprocesses of preparedness for caregiving could provide healthcare professionals with opportunities to support family caregivers in managing them. Preparedness for caregiving should be seen as a process to be supported and promoted continuously in palliative home care, not just at enrollment.

Keywords

Palliative careFamily caregiversPreparednessCaregiving
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , June 2015 , pp. 767 - 775
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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