Fictive kin: friends as family supporting older adults as they age.

ABSTRACT

Assessing social support or social capital is receiving renewed attention in health care. A search of the nursing literature revealed limited attention to a potential resource in the care of older adults--fictive kin. Transdisciplinary searches indicated that "fictive kin" or "chosen kin" are increasingly important as family size shrinks and older adults live longer lives. Fictive kin are common across cultural groups and some have designated special names for these quasi-family members. The purpose of this article is to advance the concept of fictive kin as a resource for older adults and to provide strategies to promote engagement of fictive kin in health care planning by nurses.