| It is important that we all understand the basics of family dynamics
and effects of family dynamics on adaptation to a terminal
illness. Every family develops ways of behaving and interacting
to satisfy its needs for survival.
Sometimes, when a family's pattern of relating is very different
from our own, we want the family to change. We want to show
families the "right" way to relate. However, our
desire to teach families "better" ways of relating sometimes
comes from our own need to feel comfortable. Instead of trying
to change a family's already existing patterns of relating, we need to
help them identify and build on existing strengths within their
already familiar patterns
During times of tremendous stress, learning anything new is
extremely difficult. While a family member is dying, other
members of the family are struggling to cope with the approaching
death and all that it entails. They are already stressed by the
need to learn new skills, such as giving bed baths or planning
a funeral. In such a stressful situation, demands by hospice
staff, or well meaning friends, concerning new ways of relating may
overwhelm the family's already stressed coping abilities.
However, impaired relationships and communication difficulties
within families are major causes of psychological pain for terminally
ill patients. When a family's patterns of relating interfere
with a patient's quality of life, members of the hospice team, in
particular the psycholosocial staff, need to gently intervene.
The Family System
The Family Life Cycle
The Nature of Family Systems
A Family's Response to Death |
