Family roles in supporting palliative care for elderly people in Ho Chi Minh City at present

Abstract

Families has an important role in health care in general and palliative care in particular for the elderly. Previous and current research studies have shown that the family is the main and decisive social network in life support for the elderly. This article is excerpted from a qualitative study on palliative care for the elderly in Ho Chi Minh City. Research results show that the elderly need a lot of support resources in health care (family, relatives, friends, social organizations/groups, the state) during the palliative care phase. However, the family remains a resource of utmost importance when performing seven different roles in supporting palliative care for the elderly.