A Valuable but Demanding Time Family Life During Advanced Cancer in an Elderly Family Member

Abstract

This study explores experiences of elderly patients with cancer and their family members with regard to what is important and difficult in the family relationships during the palliative phase. Family group interviews were conducted with 26 families. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Three themes emerged: "Ensuring a positive final time together," "Avoiding tension and conflict," and "Concealing thoughts, feelings, and needs." The main theme, "A valuable but demanding time," indicates that although families find this phase of life challenging, they emphasize the importance of ensuring that this time is spent together in a positive way as a family.

A sense of security in palliative homecare in a Norwegian municipality; dyadic comparisons of the perceptions of patients and relatives - a quantitative study

“…Patients in the late palliative phase often require comprehensive assistance due to their complex needs, and their relatives are referred to as the glue in the patients' palliative homecare [13]. Even if patients have family members who want to help, they may be busy with other obligations such as work, home and children [55]. It can therefore be challenging for patients to remain at home for as long as they would like.…”

Caregiver reactions and social provisions among family members caring for home-dwelling patients with cancer in the palliative phase: A cross-sectional study

“…[8] Furthermore, spouses are reluctant to leave the patient alone in case of an emergency [49] and patients and spouses avoid bothering their children. [4,50,51] Notably, the highest significant values were observed in the comparison between the spouses and ChmP. We hypothesize that this result indicates that an available spouse lessens the caregiver burden of children and children-in-law.…”

“…According to traditional and cultural family rules, spouses are expected to care for a sick spouse. [48] However, as previously mentioned, patients and spouses often protect children from the caregiver burden [8,25,49,51] and, therefore, likely do not expect children and children-in-law to support them in caregiving. Children and children-in-law are not expected to provide much caregiving; [26] have multiple role obligations, such as home, children and work, in addition to caregiving; [25,26,52] and may therefore be in need of help and expect family members to share the caregiving responsibility.…”

Individuell plan i palliativ fase – ei hjelp til meistring for pårørande

“…Studiar viser at pårørande treng støtte og omsorg for å vere ressurspersonar for den sjuke (1,7,8,13,20,22,33). Milberg skriv at pårørande opplever uvisse og angst når dei ikkje har familiaer og helsefagleg støtte tilgjengeleg i den palliative fasen (3).…”

“…Det finst studiar om individuell plan (16)(17)(18)(19), men ingen tek for seg både palliasjon og pårørandeperspektivet. Fleire norske studiar omhandlar pårørande innanfor palliasjon (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Oppsummert viser studia at dei pårørande ønskjer informasjon, førebuande samtalar, støtte og tverrfaglege og tilgjengelege helsetenester for å meistre den kompliserte omsorga i kvardagen.…”