Abstract

This article discusses the importance and function of family support for people suffering from oncological or long-term illness. It will also outline the difficulties such support may encounter. An analysis of the issues shows that from the first moment that illness is suspected and the patient undergoes tests right through to the final diagnosis, the patient experiences a constant sense of uncertainty regarding their health and prognosis, which is a cause of considerable emotional tension. The prospect of a serious, chronic, or life-threatening illness raises many difficult questions to which there is usually no simple answer. Finding themselves in an entirely new situation such a person is forced to reflect on their existence, make changes to their hitherto lifestyle, accept many limitations and restrictions and focus their thoughts on their disease. In these circumstances, social support, and especially the support of one’s close family, takes on a special importance. Family support plays an extremely important role when the ill patient is a child. The natural environment for a child is the family home. As a consequence, there is no doubt that home care is the best form of care for children with terminal diseases during those times when they are not undergoing hospital treatment.

Keywords: family support, social support, long-term disease, life-threatening illness