Abstract
"Caring at the Crossroads" explored the experiences of family caregivers who provided palliative end-of-life care. The study employed a qualitative research design, combining a case study framework with a phenomenological approach. Thirteen participants, selected through purposive and snowball sampling, shared their firsthand experiences. The research method included interviews with the aim of capturing the subjective meanings, emotions, and attachment dynamics, particularly emphasizing the importance of secure attachments in providing stability, trust, and comfort during palliative care. It explored secure, anxious and fearful, and dismissive-avoidant attachment styles, revealing the emotional struggles and conscious choices made by caregivers. The adjustment processes of family caregivers involved a complex interplay of avoidance and approach behaviors. Freeze responses, characterized by hesitation and emotional immobilization, contrasted with flight responses, which involved emotional and physical withdrawal. Approach behaviors, marked by planning and action, demonstrated a proactive and committed approach to caregiving responsibilities. The study emphasized the need to recognize and respect the individual responses of caregivers in the palliative stage. It also acknowledged the various grief experiences that arose after palliative end-of-life care. The research identified four sub-themes: prolonged grief, anticipatory grief, irregular grief, and normal grief. These different patterns of grief highlighted the importance of personalized and empathetic support strategies to address the unique challenges faced by caregivers. The findings of this study provided valuable insights for psychology and counseling, offering understanding and empathy to those who navigated caregiving in the midst of love, pain, and resilience.
