Researching the meaning of support : an empirical study on the meaning of support for family carers who care for a senior person at home

Nursing care of the elderly is believed to be one of the major future European healthcare challenges. Family carers are and will continue to be providing a considerable and increasing proportion of the care for elderly persons (i.e.>65 years) living at home. Support is a term not seldom seen in documents or literature relating to family carers. Support, it seems, is something that should be provided for family carers for alleviating their burden, stress and worry. However the meaning of Support for family carers is perhaps not as clear as one may be led to believe. The aim of this research project was to illuminate the meaning of support for family carers who care for an elderly person at home. Narrative interviews with 20 family carers and 20 registered nurses in palliative home care were conducted and analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutics inspired by the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur. The results indicate that the meaning of support for family carers was a sense of entrustment, an unwinding in the reassurance of shared responsibility in decisions. It is the respectfulness of others, being seen as a carer with attentiveness and genuine interest. It is sensing at togetherness in caring. For the registered nurses the meaning of being supportive was sensing, to bear witness giving time, daring to stay and listen, to see, hear and recognize. It is a pacing and paving the way for the family. It is to facilitate in uncovering possibilities and being an assurance that carries the family