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6/2020 – Evaluation in Social Work 1/2021 – ERIS Journal - Winter 2021 - Forced Migration and Minority Groups 2/2021 – 3/2021 – 4/2021 – ERIS Journal - Summer 2021 - Histories of social work

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Issues » 2010/2 - Social Work with the Dying »

Identification of Family Needs in Domestic Palliative Care

Radka Bužgová

Abstract:
Caring for a patient in palliative care includes caring for his/her family. Caring for a dying relative is very demanding, limits the working process, family life and social relations, and is often connected with physical and psychological vulnerability. Identifying problems and unmet needs of family members who are caring for their relative at the end of life may help professionals in palliative care to provide adequate interventions and may lead to better outcomes in palliative care. The aim of this contribution is to highlight the importance of needs of family members caring for a dying patient, and to find out, on the basis of literature analysis, the most frequently stated needs and unmet needs of family members in palliative care in professional and scientific articles. On the basis of literature search 15 articles dealing with problems of family needs in palliative care were found and analyzed. As findings suggest, family members consider sufficient awareness, a good relationship with professionals and emotional support as important. Inadequate awareness was the most often stated unmet need.

Keywords:
family carer, needs, unmet needs, palliative care, burden, quality of life

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