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  3. Family Caregiving in Serious Illness in the United States: Recommendations to Support an Invisible Workforce

Family Caregiving in Serious Illness in the United States: Recommendations to Support an Invisible Workforce

Family caregivers provide the vast majority of care for individuals with serious illness living in the community but are not often viewed as full members of the healthcare team. Family caregivers are increasingly expected to acquire a sophisticated understanding of the care recipient's condition and new skills to execute complex medical or nursing tasks, often without adequate preparation and support, and with little choice in taking on the role. This review draws on peer‐reviewed literature, government reports, and other publications to summarize the challenges faced by family caregivers of older adults in the context of serious illness and to identify opportunities to better integrate them into the healthcare workforce. We discuss promising approaches such as inclusion of family caregivers in consensus‐based practice guidelines; the “no wrong door” function, directing consumers to needed resources, regardless of where initial contact is made; and caregiver‐friendly workplace policies allowing flexible arrangements. We present specific recommendations focusing on research, clinical practice, and policy changes that promote family‐centered care and improve outcomes for caregivers as well as persons with serious illness.

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Key Information

Type of Reference
Jour
Type of Work
Review
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons
ISBN/ISSN
00028614
Publication Year
2019
Issue Number
S2
Journal Titles
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Volume Number
67
Start Page
S451
End Page
S456