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Family Caregiving and Palliative Care: Aligning Theory, Practice, and Policy

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Meeting the Needs of Older Adults with Serious Illness

Part of the book series: Aging Medicine ((AGME))

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Abstract

Although a large analytic base documents the key role that family caregivers play in providing essential care to persons with chronic or life-threatening illnesses, caregiver support has largely been absent from policy discussions. Supporting family involvement in palliative care requires skills, monitoring, and attention to emotional and spiritual factors as well as skilled clinical care. Most policy discussions have focused on professional, clinical, regulatory, and financial aspects of palliative care but have not kept pace with palliative care theory and practice regarding family caregivers. The time is right for increased attention, funding, and support, and this chapter outlines some opportunities for change.

Carol Levine Directs the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund

Carol O’Shaughnessy is a Principal Policy Analyst at the National Health Policy Forum. The views expressed in this chapter do not necessarily represent those of the National Health Policy Forum.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Families and Health Care Project, United Hospital Fund, 1411 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, NY, 10018, USA

    Carol Levine M.A.

  2. National Health Policy Forum, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Carol V. O’Shaughnessy

Authors
  1. Carol Levine M.A.
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  2. Carol V. O’Shaughnessy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol Levine M.A. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA

    Amy S. Kelley

  2. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA

    Diane E. Meier

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Levine, C., O’Shaughnessy, C.V. (2014). Family Caregiving and Palliative Care: Aligning Theory, Practice, and Policy. In: Kelley, A., Meier, D. (eds) Meeting the Needs of Older Adults with Serious Illness. Aging Medicine. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0407-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0407-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0406-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0407-5

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