https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2020.9102
Care workers’ experiences discussing financial issues with families facing end-of-life decisions
Submitted: 12 May 2020
Accepted: 9 February 2021
Published: 25 February 2021
Accepted: 9 February 2021
Abstract Views: 455
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Numerous studies have confirmed the presence of financial difficulties for families when a loved one is at the end of life. However, few studies examine the discussions family members have with care workers about financial issues during end of life. The research presented here examines the experiences that care workers have with family members expressing financial concerns and how care workers respond. I conducted in-depth interviews with fifty-eight care workers, defined in this study as clergy, patient advocates, and nurses who had experiences talking with families about financial issues. Transcripts of the interviews served as the data set. I transcribed, coded and analyzed the data. Families talk about financial issues openly, although sometimes guiltily. Some families express difficulties implicitly, and in these cases, care workers often had to piece together information based on other statements and behaviors of the family. Care workers suggest solutions at the interpersonal, organizational, inter-organizational, social, and national levels. Findings also support prior research that it is important for families to have end-of-life discussions before death is imminent so that families may plan accordingly, and offer insights about care workers and their role in making financial discussions easier for families.
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How to Cite
Hopeck, Paula. 2021. “Care workers’ Experiences Discussing Financial Issues With Families Facing End-of-Life Decisions”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 4 (3). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2020.9102.
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