Aspects of Family Life while Living with a Family Caregiver who Has Terminal Stage Cancer

Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe aspects of family life when a family caregiver who lives at home has terminal stage cancer. A convenience sample of human subjects informed participants, was six families with a member living at home in the terminal stage of cancer. Taped and transcribed interviews provided data, which was qualitatively analyzed. Results revealed two main themes. The first theme was ‘the experience of living with the patient’. The four categories were extracted: life became controlled by the patient’s state of the mind and body; family members developed a feeling of restriction in their life; family became conscious of limited life; life became unpredictable. The second theme, ‘creating family strategies of care for patient’ contained seven extracted categories: caring for own physical condition; creating a comfortable environment for the family; learning to cooperate as a family; getting the ‘knack of care-giving; receiving caring support from neighbors while creating family strength through the perseverance of other families and living to the fullest with the patient in the time remaining. This analysis suggests that family life with a terminally ill family member is complex. Understanding both how families respond and that they have potential for strength and caring will assist nurses in supporting families’ care strategies for their terminally ill member at home.