Interventions in Hospice Caregivers’ Coping Mechanisms

Abstract Background: There is an increasing awareness, and need for, hospice services in the United States. While some may choose to receive their care in an inpatient setting, many prefer the comforts of home. When they receive their care at home, their loved ones end up shouldering many of the burdens of that care. There is a noticeable lack in support for this specific population of caregivers. Objectives: The purpose of this integrative literature review is to investigate current best practices in regards to coping mechanisms for informal hospice caregivers and to analyze potential areas for development of research in caregiver burden. Method: An integrative literature review using PsycInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Health Literature (CINAHL), ProQuest, and Academic Search Complete database. The search was conducted using these terms: caregiver, hospice, and coping. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Few extrapolated data based on common themes in familial caregivers, which lead to some suggestions on how to best care for this population. Some suggested that a mixture of educational material, psychological counseling, and group support while their ailing family member is still alive, would be most beneficial. The use of social media was focused on in one study, and that it could facilitate bereavement support to caregivers. Conclusion: There is a lack of strong evidence for effective coping strategies and support systems for informal or family caregivers of patients receiving hospice care. A needs assessment to identify priority areas of information on death and dying, guidance and support during the patient’s last few dying hours and the bereavement that follows, is warranted in order to develop highly relevant interventions for this group of hospice caregivers