Developing a typology of family care: implications for nurses and other service providers

The meanings attributed to the concept of care are considered. It is argued that whilst nursing has paid considerable attention to care in a professional (nursing) context, it has virtually ignored care as it is defined and construed by family carers. A new typology of family care is described which builds on the limited existing conceptual work in this area. It is further suggested that interventions which are intended to assist carers form a continuum ranging from services which are facilitative to those which are actually obstructive. In the light of these discussions, the implications of the new typology for nurses working with family carers are addressed briefly.