Challenges Faced by Blended Families at End of Life

This article, however, is addressing situations in which the family system is not working smoothly and is an attempt to explore how we, as professionals, approach these situations.Alternatively, in some blended family situations, it is one or more of the children who are the primary caregivers and the second spouse is the one who is the reluctant caregiver.While you want to have an awareness of family dynamics, you do not want to have a position on them. It would be very easy to side with the caregiver who is involved and complaining about others who are not involved. But you don ’t know the history of the family and their relationships.Intervention: First of all, stay out of the mud slingingProvide supportive listening, but do not take sides. Who is right or wrong is not our place to say.Don ' t say, “What a jerk!” Do say, “It sounds like you’re disappointed that he is not more involved in the care.” Document objectively any family dynamics that could affect care.Intervention: Be solution focusedWhile we want to provide supportive listening to a family member who is frustrated with a caregiving situation, we also need to redirect focus to the reality of the situation at hand and what we can actually do to ensure the patient is getting good care and the caregiver is supported.Intervention: Complete HCPOAIf the patient is still oriented and does not yet have a health care power of attorney, encourage them to complete this document. Ask them who they want their prim...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Care Tags: communication documentation family goals of care hospice language miles social work stepfamily Source Type: blogs