Avoidance of issues in family caregiving

Abstract

Effective communication between older people and their family carers is necessary for providing appropriate and quality care. However, family carers and carereceivers may avoid discussing issues of concern and this may adversely affect the quality of the caring relationship. This study investigated the content of, and avoidance of issues in communication between 84 spousal and filial carers and carereceivers. The study findings indicate that family carers and carereceivers do avoid discussing issues of concern. Nurses working with families are well placed to promote more effective communication in the caring context to augment more satisfying caring relationships for both carers and carereceivers.

Unmet Desire for Caregiver‐Patient Communication and Increased Caregiver Burden

“…The role of caregiver‐patient communication has not been examined as a potentially modifiable cause of caregiver burden. Although there has been little investigation of how patients and caregivers communicate with each other, several small studies have suggested that there are barriers to this communication 5–8 . One study of caregivers of cancer patients receiving palliative care noted that family communication was noted to be difficult, although this study also suggested that the patients' illnesses brought families and patients closer together 5 .…”

“…One study of caregivers of cancer patients receiving palliative care noted that family communication was noted to be difficult, although this study also suggested that the patients' illnesses brought families and patients closer together 5 . Additional studies have shown that patients and family members do not want to talk about or avoid communication about caregiving preferences and other issues of concern, in part because of an unwillingness to acknowledge the patient's future decline 6–7 or to avoid psychological distress 8 . Related studies of communication between patients and physicians and between caregivers and physicians suggest that patients and caregivers may have differing and conflicting communication needs.…”

Relatives’ struggle for an improved and more just care for older people in community care

“…2003). According to several studies, relatives seek improved information and better communication with the staff (Edwards & Forster 1999, Iwasiw et al. 2003).…”

“…When nursing caregivers deal with relatives they can, accordingly, as a result of their treatment of them, influence whether they become involved in the nursing care sufficiently (Hertzberg et al 2003). According to several studies, relatives seek improved information and better communication with the staff (Edwards & Forster 1999, Iwasiw et al 2003. Furthermore, relatives need to be able to help and support their family members in accordance with their own requirements and conditions (Edwards & Forster 1999, Ryan & Scullion 2000.…”

Caregiver—carereceiver communication Part 2: Overcoming the influence of stereotypical role expectations

“…Such disparate reasonings are unlikely to be articulated much less negotiated. Instead, discussions about controversial issues tend to be actively avoided or deflected in order to minimise the many tensions experienced in caregiving situations (Edwards, 1996;Edwards & Forster, 1999;Wright, 1991) and eventually a predicament of caring develops.…”