In her research, Faculty of Nursing associate professor Dr. Priscilla Koop focuses on the needs of the family members and friends who provide that care, particularly to patients with advanced cancer. People dying of cancer have intense care needs.
Caregivers sometimes get no more than four hours of sleep at night.
We want to do what we can to ensure these people, many of whom are elderly, don't get sick as well, while also respecting their needs and wishes as they care for dying family members. Koop's research colleague, Dr. Vicki Strang, has shown in previous studies that caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease benefit from periods of time away-brief shopping trips, for example, or opportunities to get a full night's sleep. Research conducted by Koop and Strang suggests those looking after dying family members may feel differently. They know they will get a break when the person dies, and they tend to want to spend every remaining moment with him or her. Well-intentioned invitations from friends and relatives can ultimately add to the stress rather than reduce it.