title: Holding on to normalcy and overshadowed needs: family caregiving at end of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregivers in end-of-life care are at risk for health deterioration and decreased quality of life because of the many stressing factors involved in the caregiving role.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this analysis is to come to understand the nature of occupation as experienced by family caregivers of dying patients at a residential hospice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from hospice residents, their family members, and the hospice staff was collected over a period of six months via participant observation, interviews, and document review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The themes "holding on to normalcy" and "overshadowed needs of caregivers" describe the complex and uncertain nature of family caregivers' occupation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupations of family caregivers reflected experiences of doing, being, belonging, and becoming. By looking through the lens of the caregiver, the findings of this study will help occupational therapists address the unique needs of the caregiver in end-of-life care.
authors.affiliation: Texas Woman's University, 8194 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas,TX 75231, USA. npickens@twu.edu
authors.forename: Noralyn D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Pickens
authors.forename: Kyndra R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D013727:Terminal Care