Family preferences in caring for their hospitalized elderly relatives

We know little about family preferences in participating in hospital care for elders. This pilot study was conducted to explore the kind of care actions that family caregivers prefer to do for their hospitalized elderly relatives. The instrument used was a 14-item questionnaire based on a qualitative study conducted by the author. The results indicated that 95% of these family caregivers (n = 40) would prefer to participate in 10 or more types of family care actions. The implications for nursing practice are discussed. Future research will focus on identifying factors influencing family preferences, the relationship between the preferences and actual performance, and how nurses can help family caregivers participate in the care they desire.