ABSTRACT
Caring for elderly relatives as they become more frail is a transition which presents some difficulty in the life cycle of many families. In Britain 1.4 million people devote more than 20 hours a week to caring for older people, a role adopted as a result of family and kinship (Taylor and Field 1993). The issues which arise for families should be addressed by nurses privileged to work with older people. There is a pertinent need to combine a sound theory base and practical education to ensure that families with older persons requiring care receive holistic nursing interaction. Family nursing encompasses this approach.
