- Assess effects of patient's disease on family functioning to plan interventions that enhance long-term well-being of family and patient.
- Identify the spokesperson for the family to avoid creating communication conflicts within family.
Encourage family members to identify strengths and weaknesses in the family system. Help them explore values, beliefs, perceived changes, and actual role changes related to older patient's altered physical or emotional condition to enhance insight.- Assist patient and family members in developing short-term and long-term goals and contingency plans to increase a sense of control and direction for the future.
Evaluate and rectify any knowledge deficit that family members have about patient's disease and treatment. Experience doesn't guarantee correct knowledge. Lack of knowledge can exacerbate frustration and tension within the family.- Provide an outlet for family members to express their frustrations about their present caregiving responsibilities. Being able to talk about what they are presently experiencing will allow the opportunity to stand back and see what is happening in their relationship with patient.
- Help family members explore coping strategies used effectively during past crises and discuss how to apply these strategies to the present situation to make family members aware of their demonstrated ability to adapt to change.
- Maintain a nonjudgmental attitude while working with family members. Some families may hesitate to accept outside help. Other families may be unwilling to make even small sacrifices to care for an older relative. Remember that if family members haven't been supportive or close to the patient before, you're unlikely to change their attitudes. A nonjudgmental outlook benefits the patient and family members. Learning to accept your limitations will help you avoid burnout.
- Facilitate family conferences; help family members identify key issues and select support services, if needed. Involving patient and family in care planning promotes open communication throughout illness.
Suggest using a care manager to help with the ongoing coordination of patient's needs. Help family identify a care manager they can relate to. A care manager may help simplify decision-making and limit family conflict.- Help patient and family establish a visiting routine that won't tax their resources. Each family member may be responsible for a day or period of time, if desired. Use patient's daily routine to aid in planning; for example, no visiting during treatments or periods of uninterrupted sleep. This enhances family's sense of contributing to patient's overall care.
- Provide family with clear, concise information about patient's condition. Be aware of what family has been told, and help them interpret information. This ensures clear, uncluttered communication between patient, family, and caregivers.
- Ensure privacy during patient and family visits. This demonstrates respect and fosters open communication between family members.
- Help family support patient's independence. Encourage attendance at therapy sessions, and allow patient to demonstrate new skills and abilities to help family members learn how they can help promote patient's independence and self-care.
- Provide emotional support to family by being available to answer questions. This demonstrates your willingness to help family seek health-related information.
- Help patient and family members identify appropriate community services, such as adult day care, respite care, and geriatric outreach services, to provide access to additional sources of support.
- Coordinate referrals to other health care professionals, such as a social worker or physical therapist, to ensure clear communication among health care providers, which enables the patient to receive appropriate comprehensive care.
- Encourage family members to participate in appropriate support groups to help them obtain social support and information and to provide an opportunity to express feelings.
- Encourage family members to contact and use appropriate community agencies to help prevent burnout among family members after patient leaves the hospital. Families may need encouragement to use support and respite care services if past efforts to use such services proved unsuccessful.
- Remain supportive and understanding if patient or family members are reluctant to use needed community resources, such as adult day care, respite care, and home health care services. An older patient may feel that using outside resources means sacrificing independence; family members may feel that asking for help indicates lack of caring.
Suggested NIC Interventions
Caregiver Support; Coping Enhancement; Conflict Mediation; Decision-Making Support; Emotional Support; Family Involvement Promotion; Family Mobilization; Family Support; Learning Facilitation; Respite Care; Spiritual Support; Support Group |