Caregivers’ experiences of unmet needs during palliative care

Sammanfattning: Caregivers while, the biggest providers of palliative care for terminally sick patients, are often neglected in the process of providing care, which inadvertently affects their overall health and well-being. This study aims to explore the experiences of the unmet needs of the caregivers in palliative care. The literature review is based on seven quantitative, four qualitative and one mixed methodology approach studies. Results show a shortage of information given to caregivers regarding disease progression, symptomatology, support services and financial services. Furthermore the themes of unmet needs that emerged are physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Caregivers also reported the shortage of standard services provided by healthcare sector.  A healthy relationship scenario, where caregivers are supported to look after themselves as well as their loved ones, would boost the support they render to the patients.  The provision of needed services to caregivers, nurses, and healthcare personnel is required to fulfill a healthy relationship and further develop it by learning from the caregivers’ experiences. In conclusion, effective communication between caregivers and care providers is found to be a prerequisite for building trust and could contribute to satisfy the informational, medical, social and spiritual needs while helping to decrease health strains of caregivers.