One important aspect of the nurses’ role in palliative care is that of supporting carers. Carers are those who look after someone at home, and are usually considered informal or lay carers as they are not being paid for what they do. The amount of care provided and time spent on informal caring is well documented and saves many millions of dollars each year. It is important then that support is provided for carers. 

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Free Full text Article

Tse Man Wah, Doris. Care for the Family in Palliative Care. HKSPM Newsletter. 2007 Apr-Aug;(1-2):26-30.

References 

• Thomas K, Hudson P, Oldham L, Kelly B, Trauer T. Meeting the needs of family carers: an evaluation of three home-based palliative care services in Australia. Palliat Med. 2010 Mar;24(2):183-91. Epub 2010 Jan 19.
• Eyre S. Supporting informal carers of dying patients: the district nurse's role. Nurs Stand. 2010 Feb 3-9;24(22):43-8.
• Linderholm M, Friedrichsen M. A desire to be seen: family caregivers' experiences of their caring role in palliative home care. Cancer Nurs. 2010 Jan-Feb;33(1):28-36.
• Grande G, Stajduhar K, Aoun S, Toye C, Funk L, Addington-Hall J, Payne S, Todd C. Supporting lay carers in end of life care: current gaps and future priorities. Palliat Med. 2009 Jun;23(4):339-44. Epub 2009 Mar 20.
• Zapart S, Kenny P, Hall J, Servis B, Wiley S. Home-based palliative care in Sydney, Australia: the carer's perspective on the provision of informal care. Health Soc Care Community. 2007 Mar;15(2):97-107.

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