Go To CAPC Home Page Go To CAPCManual Home Page Development
Rationale
Elements
Lexicon
Resources
FAQ
Miscellaneous
How to Establish a Palliative Care Program

Informal Caregiver Training and Support

To be competent caregivers, family and friends expect and need:

  • Information
  • Practical help
  • Emotional support
  • Meaningful participation in decision-making and treatment planning

Although frequently forgotten, most illness is, in fact, experienced at home. Patients themselves and caregivers are responsible for much of the care required by the patient. When healthcare providers prepare the patient and family for their caregiving roles and support them, not only will care be better, but informal caregivers will feel much more confident and rewarded in their roles.

Nevertheless, caregiver financial burden, the availability of alternate settings, such as long term care, and respite relief remain concerns.

Previous Page
Expect Assistance with Caregiving Previous Page
Informal Caregiver Training and Support Next Page
Next Page Caregiver Financial Support


Help develop CAPCManual. Send your comments, questions, suggestions to: fferris@sdhospice.org
Top of Page
Home Development Rationale Elements Lexicon Resources FAQ
Summary Overview Contributors Help Get Acrobat Contact Us

CAPCManual Attribution:  von Gunten CF, Ferris FD, Portenoy RK, Glajchen M, eds. CAPCManual: How to Establish A Palliative Care Program. New York, NY: Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2001.   © Center for Palliative Studies, San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care, San Diego, CA and
The Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, 2001

Permission to reproduce for non-commercial educational purposes with display of attribution and copyright is granted.
Last updated: February 20, 2002

Rationale
Select section:
Changing Illness Experience
Changing Expectations and Needs
Progressive Healthcare Response
Responding to the Opportunity

•  Changing Illness Experience
      Illness in the Past
      Progress Fighting Disaese
      Illness Today
         Prolonged Illness Experience
            Chronic Disease Process
               Determining Prognosis
               Cancer
            Manifestations
            Predicament
         Prolonged End-of-life Experience
            Sudden Unexpected Death
            Predictable Decline
            Slow Decline, Multiple Acute Crises
         Death in the US
            Leading Causes of Death
            Setting of Death
               Desired
               Reality
         Multiple Issues Cause Suffering
            The Square of Care
            Morbidity
               Pain
               Need for Assistance
               Social, Financial Impact
         Implications for Care
            Variable Need for Care
            Opportunities
               For Patients
               For Families
Top of Page

•  Changing Expectations and Needs
      Increased Consumer Autonomy
         Picker Institute 8 Dimensions of Care
      Goals, Not Problems, Drive Care
         Shift to Goal-oriented Care
      Expect Competence, Expertise
      Expect Comprehensive Assessment
      Expect Effective Communication
      Expect Participation in Decision-making
      Expect Timely, Continous, Coordinated Care Delivery
      Expect Assistance with Caregiving
         Caregiver Training, Support
         Caregiver Financial Support
         Alternate Settings of Care
         Respite Relief
Top of Page

•  Progressive Healthcare Response
      Focus on Disease-modifying Therapy
      Focus on Care of the Dying
         Early Hospice
         Modern Hospice Movement
            Dame Cicely Saunders
            Origins of "Palliative Care”
         Evolution of Hospice, Palliative Care
            In United Kingdom
            In Canada
            In United States
            Convergent Evolution
         Hospice, Palliative Care in US Today
            Hospice Growth
      Continued Unmet Opportunity
      A Public Health Issue
Top of Page

•  Responding to the Opportunity
      Paradigm Shift in Thinking
      Provide Concurrent Care
      Consider Application to Those at Risk
      Expand Services, Settings of Care
      1º, 2º, 3º Model of Delivery
      Expand Access to Expertise
      Create Specialized Environments
      Many Names, Same Focus of Care
Top of Page