Caregiving systems at the end of life: How informal caregivers and formal providers collaborate

End-of-life care is moving out of hospitals and families are replacing professionals in the delivery of care as death approaches. Guided by concepts from the social care model (Cantor & Brennan, 2000), this qualitative study aimed to explore and describe the interrelationship between informal and formal care in a terminal illness. In-depth interviews with 64 families were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded. Genograms and ecomaps were created to visually represent caregivers' sources of support and used to analyze caregiving networks. Results indicate that quasi-formal and informal social support become an important link between informal and formal caregiving. As a relative is dying, families value kindness and compassion, clear and straightforward communication, information, anticipatory guidance, and respect for self-determination from formal caregivers.