Anhöriga i hemsjukvården

Abstract

Nowadays it is possible for sick and dying patients to be cared for at home. In some parts of the country up to 90% of registered patient die at home. In the country as a whole 85% of all patients that die, do this in a hospital or some other institution. If the home care is connected to a hospital, resources are available all around the clock. Home care saves days of hospital treatment that otherwise should be necessary. When a patient is treated in the home great responsibility is layed on the relatives that carry out the main part of the care. In the literature the importance of being well informed in order to be able to cope with stress is emphasised. Stress develops in situations where we are feeling insufficient. If we understand what is happening and can foresee what is coming next it will be much easier to cope whit the situation. The objective of the study was to investigate if and to what extent relatives of patients in home care were given information and education. The results presented obtained by interviewing relatives and personnel around the families about their feelings and experiences in connection whit the home care. It was shown that information and education in an organised way occurred to a small degree or not at all. Therefore the report concentrates on the general situation for home care. The relatives agreed that availability and respect for integrity were fundamental in this connection.