Families' experiences of caring at home for a technology-dependent child: a review of the literature

Abstract

Recent medical advances have led to the emergence of a group of chronically ill children who are dependent upon technology for their survival. Many of these children are cared for at home by their parents. This paper presents an overview of the literature that has examined the experiences of families caring for a technology-dependent child at home. The social, emotional and financial impact on families and their perspectives on the services supporting them at home is described. The paper concludes by identifying areas where further research is needed.