Nursing Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Nursing, including details on health care, hospital staff, professional care.

Family care for the older person with cancer.

Given B, Sherwood PR

College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. bgiven@msu.edu

OBJECTIVES: To describe the needs of family members of older persons undergoing cancer treatment and to examine the interventions designed to alleviate caregiver distress. DATA SOURCES: Research studies and published articles. CONCLUSION: Interventions to reduce distress for caregivers of older persons with cancer have the potential to lower patients' hospital re-admissions and interruptions in cancer treatment and to improve patients' and caregivers emotional health. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology practitioners must consider the needs of family caregivers when planning and implementing interventions to improve or maintain caregiver health.

Published 6 February 2006 in Semin Oncol Nurs, 22(1): 43-50.
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