Caring for Yourself While Your Loved One Has Cancer

1. How can I make caregiving a group effort?

Write down everyone who reached out to you and your loved one. Think about their strengths and take them up on their offers of support. Create a caregiving task list and assign responsibilities to friends and family.

Examples could include providing transportation to medical appointments, delivering groceries, carpooling children to activities, or providing quiet companionship at home. It may help to designate a trusted friend to be the lead in this effort or to create an online shared calendar. Remember, your goal is to provide relief for you and your family, not micromanage support.

2. What outside sources of help are available?

Call your insurance company and ask about resources for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Ask to talk to a social worker at the cancer center or hospital. You might be surprised to find there are volunteer organizations that offer free housecleaning or rides to treatment. If employed, ask your human resource department about the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employee assistance programs (EAP), or relief funds. Sometimes employees donate money or time off to support co-workers in difficult times.

3. What do I need?

You are an important part of this journey. Be honest about when you will reach your breaking point and make a plan to prevent that from happening.

Ask a trusted friend to stay with your loved one once a week so you can get away for a walk, shopping trip, or other solo activity. Be firm in accepting the love behind advice but not acting on every person’s "miracle cure." A simple “We appreciate your love and will discuss it with our doctor” is enough to acknowledge the thought and end a conversation.

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

Reflection:

In what other ways can you care for yourself while caring for someone else?

#Caregivers #Self-care #Mentalhealth

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