Most chronically and terminally ill patients are cared for in their own homes by family and friends, rather than in hospitals or hospices. These carers are an invaluable free resource and there is an increasing amount of research into their role and the experiences in caring for the terminally ill, patients with cancer and patients with other chronic diseases. This book provides a critique of the theoretical concept of caring, carers and caregivers. Material is based on empirical evidence from recent studies with adults with acquired chronic illnesses, including terminal illness. The empirical data within the book has been gathered from the perspective of those providing personal, domestic or emotional care to others already known to them by virtue of kinship, co-habitation or friendship, rather than carers organised on a professional or voluntary basis. This new evidence is used to make suggestions about possible ways forward within health and social care practice. Students in the fields of health and social care as well as in social sciences undertaking courses with a health focus, practitioners and researchers in palliative care and all those involved in health services provision for the chronically ill will find this book extremely valuable.
