Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
16
FAMILY AND FAMILY DYNAMICS
WHAT IS FAMILY?
Family consists of people who are tied emotionally, spiritually,
economically and socially to one another either by birth or by
choice. Palliative Care defines family as anyone outside the
interdisciplinary care team involved in caring for or supporting the
dying person.
Each family is different. Its members form a complex system that
function based on dynamics and family culture that will define:
• The roles of each member of the family – including gender roles
• Who has authority and who makes decisions for the family and
for the dying person
• How the family communicates with one another and with
people outside the family, including the care team
There are many types of families and many ways to run families. In
some families, decision-making is shared; in others, one or two key
people make decisions. Some families discuss issues openly and
share information, while others do not. How families work may be
influenced by culture. For example, in some families and cultures,
the eldest son may make decisions for a dying parent.
THE FAMILY'S ROLE IN PALLIATIVE CARE
In palliative care, the family plays two roles. They provide care and
support for the dying person and they also receive care and support
from the care team.
PROVIDING CARE AND SUPPORT
When a family has to provide care for a dying member and faces the
prospect of someone dying, the normal rhythm of the household
changes. Roles may change dramatically and family interactions can
be disrupted:
• Children become caregivers for parents
