[Psychosocial care for relatives in the ICU: framework concept]

Family-centered care is an important aspect of care in intensive care medicine. But currently there is no agreement about the implementation in intensive care units (ICUs). Specific concepts of palliative medicine and pediatrics offer a good basis, but contents have to be adapted for the field of intensive care medicine. ICUs should formulate and implement a minimum standard based on the goals of shared decision-making, support for relatives in accompanying the patient, and support for the potentially burdened relatives themselves. Related protocols, reportings, and evaluation should be developed. Staff training in family-centered care and liability of provision is of great relevance for the implementation.