Providing hospice home care to the terminally ill elderly people with cancer in Taiwan: Family experiences and needs
Journal
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Journal Volume
31
Journal Issue
6
Pages
628-635
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
We explored caregivers’ experiences and needs when providing hospice home care to their terminally ill elderly patients with cancer in Taiwan for 1 year. A total of 44 caregivers were interviewed using a semistructured interview once monthly during hospice home care visits until the patients’ deaths. Content analysis of the interviews revealed 5 themes, hoping for a cure, experiencing fluctuating emotions, accepting the patient’s dying, regarding the patient’s death as a good death, and needing emotional support and information. Caregivers in hospice home care who experienced difficulties tended to seek emotional support and information throughout the entire caregiving process. With a greater understanding of caregivers’ experiences and needs, nurses can alleviate caregivers’ negative emotional reactions by actively attending to their needs during this process. ? The Author(s) 2013.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; aged; attitude to death; caregiver; emotion; female; hope; hospice care; human; interview; male; middle aged; needs assessment; neoplasm; psychology; Taiwan; terminally ill patient; very elderly; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude to Death; Caregivers; Emotions; Female; Hope; Hospice Care; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Neoplasms; Taiwan; Terminally Ill
Publisher
SAGE Publications Inc.
Type
journal article