There is little evidence for caregiver assessment and interventions based on unique social and contextual factors of caregiving. Current approaches to caring for the family caregiver involve a “one size fits all” approach where caregiver assessment may or may not occur, and there is no link between identification of caregiver needs and recommended resources. When caregiver assessment does occur, it does not involve unique caregiving characteristics that positively impact communication and health literacy. Caring for the Family Caregiver, a communication and health literacy framework, is introduced and consists of teaching healthcare providers to address caregiving types by finding disease information, assessing and integrating information, partnering with the caregiver, finding support, talking with the caregiver, and planning for caregiver self-care. Directions for future research are also summarized.
3 Palliative care at home in patients with oncological diseases: trends in characteristics and circumstances of the primary family caregiver
