Caregivers

Caring for a loved one with a serious disease like cancer can be both a deeply rewarding and stressful experience. People who serve as caregivers are affected by their loved one’s diagnosis of cancer. Just as people with cancer appreciate the support of others, caregivers have their own needs that must be addressed. To avoid caregiver “burn-out,” be aware of your needs and take the necessary steps to care for yourself.

There are a variety of challenges caregivers face that should be recognized and addressed in an appropriate manner:

• Learning how to cope with a loved one who has cancer
• Dealing with strong emotions 
• Expressing feelings in a positive way 
• Adjusting to changes in lifestyle 
• Communicating with a loved one about difficult topics (e.g., death) 
• Changes that affect sex and intimacy 
• Questioning faith and spiritual beliefs
• Maintaining a sense of self (e.g., self-worth)
• Coping with financial concerns
• Handling work responsibilities
• Planning for the future

If you are a caregiver to a spouse, family member, or close friend with cancer, recognizing how this difficult situation is affecting you is important—reaching out to find helpful information, resources, and support is vital to being an effective caregiver. Touro provides that help through the Caring for the Caregiver program. Call the Touro Supportive Cancer Care Center at (504) 897-8678 for caregiver assistance. 

> Click here for information on the Caring for the Caregiver program.

Tips for Caregivers

Here are some tips to help you deal with your experience as a caregiver:

• Give yourself and your loved one time to adjust to the diagnosis.
• Giving care to a loved one requires patience, flexibility, courage, and a sense of humor.
• Good communication is essential to learning how best to work with your loved one.
• Talk with your loved one about the future. Hope is very important.
• Plan special times together with your loved one away from the routine of treatment.
• As a caregiver, you can choose to take the primary caregiver role or, depending on the level of support from family and friends, divide it between two or more people.
• Being a caregiver can affect you emotionally, physically, and financially. If you have difficulty coping, get help. It’s okay to ask for help from others.
• To better understand your loved one’s diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, be an active participant during clinic visits.
• Recording information in a notebook during your loved one’s appointments will help you stay organized.
• Encourage your loved one to engage as much as possible in normal daily activities.
• Give yourself permission to feel emotions about your loved one’s situation, and confide in a friend or mental health professional to gain insight and support.
• Use caregiver support groups and online resources to get information and support.
• To help reduce your stress, make time for regular exercise, meditation, or some other form of relaxation.
• If care is long term, arrange for periods of relief and take a short break to recharge.
• Attempt to maintain as much of your routine as possible, but recognize that you may need to alter some of your daily activities if you are the primary caregiver.
• Remember to take care of your needs by getting adequate rest and nutrition, and take time for personal care.
• Designate someone to help field phone calls regarding your loved one’s progress.
• Allow yourself private time to do nothing or to do something that is important to you.
• Spiritual support through prayer or the guidance of a spiritual leader can be helpful.
• Rely on Touro's Cancer Center’s team of professionals for information and support.

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Resources for Caregivers 

> Click here for information for caregivers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

> Click here for the NCI book When Someone You Love is Being Treated for Cancer.

> Click here for the NCI book When Someone You Love Has Completed Cancer Treatment.

> Click here for the NCI book When Someone You Love Has Advanced Cancer.

> Click here for information for caregivers from the American Cancer Society.

> Click here for information for caregivers from Cancer Care. 

> Click here for information for caregivers from the Family Caregiver Alliance.

> Click here for information for caregivers from the National Family Caregivers Association.

> Click here for information for caregivers from Strength for Caring.

> Click here for information for caregivers from Cancer Caregiving.