Patients’ palliative care situation affects their whole family, and with every patient comes a significant number of family caregivers requiring palliative care services. Despite this, research concerning family involvement in palliative care within the hospital context is limited. Notably, the implementation of palliative care and position of the family are regulated by national laws, norms, and guidelines and ethical codes. Palliative care environments vary, ranging from the patient’s home to different clinical settings, and there are many reasons for receiving care in a hospital inpatient setting.

Family involvement in palliative inpatient care is associated with various factors, including the patient and family caregivers’ background, their willingness to involve each other in the caregiving process, and factors related to the care unit, such as the hospital care environment, knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals, guidance that the family receives from healthcare professionals, and interprofessional collaborations. Furthermore, there are two elements related to family involvement in palliative patient care within the hospital context: family participation, which includes the family providing emotional support for the patient, assisting in the patient’s physical care, and participating in the decision-making process regarding the patient’s care; and psychosocial support for the family, which involves providing psychological, emotional, informational, and spiritual support based on the family’s needs. Family involvement in palliative care can lead to many positive consequences, such as the family’s satisfaction with the patient’s care, coping with the challenges generated by any given health-related condition, and desire and readiness to care for the patient at home as well.