Family Caregiving During Healthy Aging and Illness

摘要

Family caregivers are inextricablynested in health care. Upon return homeafter an important physician visit, apatient may encounter questions froma spouse or other loved one. For manypatients, family members provide directaccompaniment to the physician andactively participate in informed consentand other clinical decisions; for some,the caregiver is a designated legal proxydecision-maker. There is variety in howthese patient-caregiver relationships formand develop over time; some individualsclearly identify who will help long beforethe help is needed whereas others areforced to recruit family caregivers amidstan unexpected and urgent crisis. Be itroutine, a crisis or advanced care planning,there are always opportunities toenhance the process of patient, caregiverand clinician working together.