Tips for Caregivers
Managing Symptoms and Side Effects:
The responsibilities of caregiving may seem complex and overwhelming at first. Depending on the person's needs, a caregiver may provide physical care; help with medical care, financial issues, or insurance issues; and serve as the liaison between the patient and the health-care team. The following tips are designed to help people become effective caregivers:
Develop a needs list. Caregiving, like any responsibility, is made up of individual tasks, with some more important than others. Compile a list of caregiving needs and use this list to decide how to divide the tasks between friends, family, and health-care professionals.
Think of it as teamwork. The caregiver is working on a team, with the person with cancer in the central role. Other members of the team include family members, friends, and the medical team. Each member brings different skills and strengths to the group, and all work toward a common goal. If you are the team leader, help each team member to express concerns, opinions, and emotions.
Be proactive. Being proactive means looking ahead and planning as much as possible in order to prevent crises. Making schedules that identify which relative or friend is available for phone calls, transportation, or errands may simplify offers from relatives, friends, or neighbors and give all involved some time to be away without guilt or concern.
Be a problem solver. Caregiving involves looking for creative options that work. To be a good problem solver, be quick to identify problems, find out what needs to be done, commit to the task, and don't be afraid to seek the help of others.
Have a positive attitude. This decision will set the stage for everything else you do. Use members of the team, friends, religious or spiritual advisors, and health-care professionals to help you cope with difficult situations.
Know yourself. Recognize your own strengths and limitations as a caregiver. This allows you to set boundaries and gives you the confidence to know when to ask for help. Compassionate caregivers need to recognize when they need to take time for themselves and "recharge" their batteries.
Gather information about professional services. These services include professional home care, home-delivered meals, and help with everyday activities. Some community agencies have volunteers who can help with transportation or advocate for health insurance or other benefits. A local hospital or community social worker is a great source for referrals to such programs.
Emotional well-being
Communicate. The caregiver's most important and challenging job is to communicate openly with the person who is ill. Assure him or her that he or she will retain decision-making power and be a central part of all discussions and decisions.
Accept the limitations of the person who is seriously ill. The person who is ill may no longer be able to taste a meal or appreciate the effort that goes into its preparation. Realize that the acts of caregiving may need to shift as the patient becomes more disabled.
Include the patient in activities that provide meaning or pleasure. Even if the person who is ill is no longer able to participate in sports or social gatherings in an active way, he or she may enjoy watching or hearing a report. It is important to preserve the connections as long as possible.
