Introduction 9
Chapter 1
Chronic patients and their family caregivers
Chronic illness 15
Family caregivers 24
Chapter 2
The family caregiver's situation
Family caregivers in South America 45
The family caregiver caring for a chronically ill person 57
Study on the spirituality of chronically ill patients and their family caregivers 79
Chapter 3
Background 127
An approach to caring for caregivers 129
Caring for caregivers Program 134
Chapter 4
Research results on proposal for monitoring caregivers 171
Social support Proposal 224
Hospital discharge plan 255
Appendices
Appendix 1 Hospital discharge plan Program 273
Appendix 2 Pulses Profile 285
Appendix 3 Preparing the family caregiver for homecare 287
Appendix 4 Caring ability inventory 290
Appendix 5 Material on daily life activities for caregivers of children with chronic illness 291
Appendix 6 Material on daily life activities for caregivers of adults with chronic illness 309
References 329