Care centred on the patient and family as a unit is core to the philosophy of palliative care. Nurses will often spend much of their time not only in patient care but also in working with families.
Family has been described as ‘those closest to the resident in knowledge, care and affection. This includes the biological family, the family of acquisition (related by marriage contract), and the family of choice and friends (not related biologically by marriage contract’ (Australian Government 2006, Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care Enhanced Version Canberra.)
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This page was created on 27 August 2010