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.
References
Beach, P. R. (in press). In the shadows: Caring for your seriously ill adult child. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.
Croker, R. (2007). The boomer century: How America's most influential generation changed everything. New York, NY: Springboard Press.
Grinyer, A. (2009). Contrasting parental perspectives with those of teenagers and young adults with cancer: Comparing the findings from two qualitative studies. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 13, 200-206. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2009.04.002
Klaus, M. H., & Kennell, J. H. (1976). Maternal-infant bonding: The impact of early separation or loss on family development. St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Book.