Family dynamics and the transition to end‐of‐life caregiving: A brief review and conceptual framework

Abstract

AbstractFamily members are an integral part of providing care and comfort at the end‐of‐life (EOL). Yet, individuals providing EOL care for a family member are vulnerable to emotional and psychological stress, and often indicate they do not have the knowledge or skills needed for providing this type of care. In addition, family dynamics across the life course may influence family communication and support during the transition to EOL care. Despite these findings, few studies examine family caregiving in the context of the family system during this transition. This study presents a brief review of extant literature and a conceptual framework designed to foster research in family caregiving systems, specifically how family dynamics influence preparedness for the transition to EOL caregiving. The complexity of individual and family aging experiences should be recognized in future research to advance the study of family caregiving and promote family caregivers' health and well‐being.