Preparedness for caregiving : A phenomenological study of the experiences of rural Australian family palliative carers

Journal article


Mason, Naomi and Hodgkin, Suzanne. (2019). Preparedness for caregiving : A phenomenological study of the experiences of rural Australian family palliative carers. Health and Social Care in the Community. 27(4), pp. 926-935. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12710
AuthorsMason, Naomi and Hodgkin, Suzanne
Abstract

The care of people with life-limiting illnesses is increasingly moving away from an acute setting into the community. Thus, the caregiver role is growing in significance and complexity. The importance of preparing and supporting family caregivers is well established; however, less is known about the impact of rurality on preparedness and how preparedness shapes the caregiving continuum including bereavement. The aim of this study, conducted in 2017, was to explore how bereaved rural family palliative carers described their preparedness for caregiving. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed following semi-structured interviews with four women and six men (N = 10, aged 55–87 years). Participants were recruited voluntarily through past engagement with a Regional Specialist Palliative Care Consultancy Service in Australia. The experiences of caregivers illustrated a lack of preparedness for the role and were characterised by four major themes: Into the unknown, Into the battle, Into the void and Into the good. The unknown was associated with a lack of knowledge and skills, fear, prognostic communication, exclusion, emotional distress and grief experience. Battles were experienced in a number of ways: intrapsychically (existing within the mind), through role conflict and identity; interpersonally with the patient, clinician and family; and systematically (against health, financial and legal systems). The void was felt during isolation in caregiving, in relinquishing the role, in bereavement and in feeling abandoned by service providers. Positive experiences, such as being valued, included and connected to supports, and the fostering of closer relationships and deeper meaning, occurred less frequently but temporarily buffered against negative aspects. Implications from this study for policy and practice centre on the frequent, purposeful and genuine engagement of caregivers. Services and clinicians are encouraged to enhance communication practices, promote meaningful inclusion, address access issues and enhance support at role relinquishment.

Keywordscaregiver; death and dying; informal care; lived experience; palliative care; phenomenology
Year2019
JournalHealth and Social Care in the Community
Journal citation27 (4), pp. 926-935
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
ISSN0966-0410
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12710
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85062348260
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range926-935
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online27 Feb 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted11 Dec 2018
Deposited03 Jun 2021
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