Emotional and Spiritual Challenges of Informal Caregivers: The Need for Early Mobile Palliative Care Support

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Informal caregivers play an important role in the palliative care of terminally ill family members at home. However, they often lack sufficient professional support, particularly in coping with emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges. This study aimed to explore caregivers' experiences of providing care to a terminally ill family member at home. <b>Methods</b>: A qualitative approach was used to collect information from informal caregivers. Data were collected through interviews, and thematic analysis was used to identify the main challenges, coping mechanisms, and perceptions related to palliative care. <b>Results</b>: The study resulted in three themes: Involvement of professionals; The reality and dignity of death, and Life after death. Caregivers often associate palliative care exclusively with the last days of life, leading to delayed involvement of the mobile palliative care team. They stated that they preferred home care to hospital care and associated this with more positive experiences at the end of life. However, many reported feelings of loneliness and emotional distress, indicating a lack of appropriate psychological support. Spiritual care is often confused with religious practices, indicating a need for further education. <b>Conclusions</b>: The early involvement of mobile palliative care teams improves coping, facilitates a more humane dying process at home, and can reduce the emotional burden on caregivers.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nursing Reports
Published
2025-09-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15090327
Primary Topic
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Emotional and Spiritual Challenges of Informal Caregivers: The Need for Early Mobile Palliative Care Support

Samir Husić, Bojan Miletić, Vedrana Vejzović, Tamara Štemberger Kolnik
Nursing Reports
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
article

Emotional and Spiritual Challenges of Informal Caregivers: The Need for Early Mobile Palliative Care Support

Samir Husić, Bojan Miletić, Vedrana Vejzović, Tamara Štemberger Kolnik
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Informal caregivers play an important role in the palliative care of terminally ill family members at home. However, they often lack sufficient professional support, particularly in coping with emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges. This study aimed to explore caregivers' experiences of providing care to a terminally ill family member at home. <b>Methods</b>: A qualitative approach was used to collect information from informal caregivers. Data were collected through interviews, and thematic analysis was used to identify the main challenges, coping mechanisms, and perceptions related to palliative care. <b>Results</b>: The study resulted in three themes: Involvement of professionals; The reality and dignity of death, and Life after death. Caregivers often associate palliative care exclusively with the last days of life, leading to delayed involvement of the mobile palliative care team. They stated that they preferred home care to hospital care and associated this with more positive experiences at the end of life. However, many reported feelings of loneliness and emotional distress, indicating a lack of appropriate psychological support. Spiritual care is often confused with religious practices, indicating a need for further education. <b>Conclusions</b>: The early involvement of mobile palliative care teams improves coping, facilitates a more humane dying process at home, and can reduce the emotional burden on caregivers.

Nursing ReportsVol. 15(9)
University of Rijeka (HR), Malmö University (SE), College of Nursing in Celje (SI), School Centre Celje (SI), as2con (Croatia) (HR), Faculty of Commercial and Business Sciences (SI)
Openalex Percentile: Top 67%
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
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