Dr. Eva Benzein, Linnaeus University, Sweden, received a multi-million dollar award (2012-2017) from the Kamprad Family Foundation to establish a Center for Collaborative Palliative Care with an emphasis on family-focused care. She and her team are now in the process of: offering university courses in palliative care at the bachelor and doctoral levels; educating palliative care health professionals who are working in communities; and designing a program of research “To live a worthy Life – possibilities and challenges in palliative care”. The study will first interview patients, family members, families, and staff about what it means to live a worthy Life. Then they will implement family interventions aiming to support a worthy Life with families who have a member receiving palliative care. Dr. Benzein is the co-author of a new book about advanced Family Systems Nursing family nursing practice and research: Benzein, E., Hagberg, M., & Saveman, B.-I. (2012). Att möta familjer inom vård och omsorg [Meeting with families in health and community care]. Stockholm, Sweden: Studentlitteratur. [in Swedish]. For more information, contact IFNA member, Eva Benzein: [email protected]
Update 2018: Dr. Benzien and her colleagues have received renewed funding for another 5-year period for the Center for Collaborative Care. Co-financed by Linnaeus University, the Region of Kronoberg (hospital and community care), and matched by the Kamprad Family Foundation, this renewed funding of over 9 million Swedish krona is focused on improving palliative care in Kronoberg, Sweden. As a part of the mission, there is also a strong emphasis on family focused nursing in palliative practice, research, and education.