ABSTRACT
Dramatic medical advances in recent years have resulted in the survival of thousands of victims of trauma and severe illness who previously would have died. One of the consequences of this revolution in medical technology is a large increase in the number of families who are now responsible for the long-term care of seriously disabled relatives. It is critical for family researchers to learn as much as possible about the impact of chronic illness on family life so that realistic and effective methods can be developed to alleviate the burdens these families must face.
