Life Patterns of Family Caregivers of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminal disease that greatly affects patients and the family caregivers who provide most of their care. Despite the psychological, physical, and financial strain placed on ALS caregivers, few research efforts have been directed to this caregiving phenomenon. The purpose of this research study, utilizing Newman's health as expanding consciousness as the theoretical framework and research method, was to advance understanding of the experience of ALS family caregivers for the advancement of nursing science. Nine patterns of the whole across all family caregivers emerged from the data, showing important implications for nursing research and practice.