Supportive Care

In the Shadows: Parents of Seriously Ill Adult Children

Patricia Ringos Beach

Beth E. White

family caregivers, communication
CJON 2012, 16(4), 341-342. DOI: 10.1188/12.CJON.341-342

Life-threatening diseases are being diagnosed at younger ages and successfully managed for longer periods of time. Adult patients increasingly will have parents who want to be present and help during treatment. Little is known about how best to include parents of adult children in the nursing plan of care. Healthcare professionals must balance the independence and privacy needs of adult patients with parents' desire to help and provide care.

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