ABSTRACT
In the fading away process, patients may think they burden others, and spouses and children may feel burdened. Burdening has many facets. Patients feel they are a burden because of the extra work they create. Spouses acknowledge the additional demands they assume, but do not describe the additional load as burdensome. Adult children have mixed feelings about incorporating the extra responsibilities into their already busy lives. Patients believe themselves a burden to the degree to which they have not constructively redefined themselves. When they do redefine themselves, they use their limited energy for emotional support and encouragement as a way of easing the burden for family members. Practitioners help patients find ways to relieve the sense of burden. They also help spouses and adult children understand the patient’s need to stay involved for as long as possible as a way to sustain self-esteem and a sense of control.
