Family functioning and its implications for palliative care.

Palliative care programs are based on the principle that care should be directed to the family as a unit. However, existing guidelines for care of the family tend to be described in general terms. Analysis of data from a series of three research studies describing the experience of twenty-three families caring for a terminally ill member revealed that family functioning influenced their experience. The dimensions of family functioning are described and guidelines for working with families are proposed.