Caregiver Tips: Planning for Long-Term Cancer Care

Caregivers for long-term cancer care

Long-term cancer care supports cancer patients throughout their treatment journey. Patients diagnosed with cancer may choose a friend or family member as their cancer caregiver. When taking on the role of caregiver, make sure to understand how to best assist them. Here are some tips below to help get you started.

Tip 1: Understand the diagnosis of your cancer patient and how it affects them

Aggressive Cancers

Being a cancer caregiver opens up new responsibilities and challenges. There are many types of caregiving that provide help for the general health and wellbeing of patients. With cancer caregiving, patients often require specialized help. You may be familiar with senior or disability caregiving, but certain cancers are more difficult to manage. For example, breast cancer is common but involves a different caregiving approach than mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lungs that typically targets older adults.

There is currently no available cure for mesothelioma. This results in a 79 percent, 1-year survival rate, even with multimodal treatment—which combines one or two cancer treatments. Cancer patients and caregivers may have many questions surrounding treatment. For this reason, caregiver resources help plan and ease long-term mesothelioma cancer care. Take time to understand the type of cancer your patient has and how mesothelioma will affect them physically, mentally, and socially. The decision to have long-term cancer care is hard on the patient, too. Caregivers relieve some of the burdens patients will have. With this in mind, preparing for your patients will help you fully grasp this role.

It’s also crucial to work with the doctors and cancer teams to provide quality care. Depending on what type of caregiver you are, your responsibilities could change. More qualified caregivers may have to administer medications. Connecting with the doctor will help the cancer team with their prognosis strategy and your patient’s long-term cancer care. This will also help you better understand the patient’s needs.

Tip 2: Keep the patient, family and friends involved

It can be devastating when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Putting in the effort to work with your patient and their family will make them feel included and comfortable during this difficult time. Caregivers spend a lot of time with patients. By creating healthy relationships with them, you can give them the support and encouragement they need. Often, treatment is hard on patients and takes long recovery times. You will be one of their biggest advocates.

Tip 3: Pay attention to how you feel

Amidst the distress you and your patient will undergo, it’s vital to check in on yourself. It may seem as though your feelings aren’t as valid as those you are helping, but that isn’t the case. You won’t be able to fully care for your patient if you’re not caring for yourself as well. To avoid burnout, dedicate time for yourself to process your emotions and feelings, especially because of how draining long-term cancer caregiving can be.

If you are taking a cancer caregiver position, keep these tips in mind. Caregiving is not babysitting. Patients and their families rely on caregivers to handle what they cannot. Taking on this role is both an immense commitment and a privilege.

By Jim|2023-06-30T10:40:29-05:00July 23rd, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: Tips for Caregivers Helping Seniors with Anxiety

Taking care of seniors with anxiety requires special attention and understanding. As a caregiver, providing the necessary support and creating a nurturing environment for seniors to manage their stress effectively is essential. This article offers practical tips for caregivers to help seniors cope with anxiety and improve their overall well-being.

Understanding Anxiety in Seniors:

Various factors contribute to anxiety in seniors, including health issues, life transitions, loss, loneliness, and cognitive changes. Understanding these causes can help caregivers identify potential triggers and provide appropriate support. Anxiety in seniors may manifest through physical symptoms (e.g., restlessness, fatigue) or emotional signs (e.g., excessive worry, irritability). Recognizing these signs enables caregivers to intervene and provide appropriate assistance. Empathy and effective communication create a safe space for seniors to express their concerns. Caregivers should listen attentively, validate their emotions, and show understanding to build trust and facilitate open dialogue.

Creating a Calm and Supportive Environment:

A. Establishing a routine and predictable schedule:

Seniors benefit from a consistent routine that provides structure and reduces uncertainty, which can contribute to anxiety. Caregivers should create a schedule that incorporates regular activities, meals, and relaxation time.

B. Providing a safe and comfortable living space:

A peaceful and relaxing environment is essential for seniors with anxiety. Caregivers should ensure that the living area is organized, clutter-free, and offers security.

C. Reducing environmental stressors and promoting relaxation techniques:

Caregivers can minimize ecological stressors, such as excessive noise or bright lights, and encourage relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, meditation, or gentle music to help seniors relax and alleviate anxiety.

Active Listening and Emotional Support

Caregivers should actively listen to seniors, paying attention to their verbal and non-verbal cues. Showing empathy and understanding validates their feelings, fosters trust, and encourages open communication. It is crucial to create a safe space for seniors to share their anxieties and worries. Caregivers should encourage them to express their emotions and actively engage in supportive conversations. Seniors often seek reassurance during anxious moments. Caregivers can provide validation, empathy, and gentle reminders of their strengths and abilities to help alleviate their anxiety.

Encouraging Social Engagement and Support

Physical activity has proven benefits for mental health. Caregivers should encourage seniors to engage in exercises suitable for their abilities, such as walking, gentle stretching, or chair exercises. Regular physical activity releases endorphins, reduces stress, and promotes overall well-being.

A balanced diet is essential for controlling anxiety. According to carers, seniors should have access to nourishing meals that contain a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats. Additionally, caregivers should encourage seniors to stay hydrated as dehydration can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Promoting adequate sleep and relaxation techniques. Sufficient sleep is essential for seniors’ mental health. Caregivers should help establish a bedtime routine that promotes relaxation, such as avoiding stimulating activities before bed and creating a comfortable sleep environment. Additionally, caregivers can teach seniors relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, meditation, or listening to soothing music to help them unwind and reduce anxiety.

Providing Cognitive and Behavioral Strategies

Seniors can quiet their brains and lessen worry by engaging in deep breathing exercises, meditation, and mindfulness practices. Seniors can be assisted in using these strategies by their carers, who can also gently remind them to do so when their anxiety levels are at their highest.

Seniors can question negative beliefs and reframe them more positively and realistically by using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches. Seniors can receive caregiving support by being encouraged to recognize destructive thinking patterns and swap them out for more powerful and positive ones.

Seniors can benefit from the problem-solving and stress management skills that carers can teach them to deal with worry. Seniors can be given the tools they need to take control of their anxiety and discover practical coping mechanisms by being encouraged to recognize stressors, break difficulties down into manageable stages, and investigate viable solutions.

Seeking Professional Help and Support

Caregivers caring for seniors need to recognize when elderly may require professional intervention for their anxiety. If anxiety significantly interferes with daily life, causes distress, or persists despite other efforts, caregivers should encourage seniors to seek help from mental health professionals.

Self-Care for Caregivers

To effectively help elderly patients who are experiencing anxiety, carers must put their health first. Maintaining physical and mental health requires engaging in self-care practices, including exercise, relaxation methods, and hobbies, and asking for help from other carers or support groups.

Connecting with other carers who have gone through similar things may be a great support system. Insights may be shared, help can be sought, and carers can feel more at ease knowing they are not making this trip alone.

Caregivers should recognize and manage their stress levels by implementing stress-management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or engaging in enjoyable activities. Allocating time for personal well-being helps caregivers recharge and approach their caregiving responsibilities with renewed energy and compassion.

Conclusion

Ongoing support and understanding are crucial in helping seniors manage anxiety. Caregivers can create a nurturing environment that fosters seniors’ mental well-being by being attentive, patient, and compassionate. Elders’ life can be significantly improved by carers’ efforts, who play a crucial role in helping elders who are experiencing anxiety. Carers may help seniors who suffer from pressure by using these suggestions and techniques to show compassion and improve their general well-being.

By Jim|2023-06-05T12:34:34-05:00June 5th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: 4 Ways You Can Find Affordable Homecare

Home care is often preferred by seniors. An overwhelming 90% of seniors want to age in place. It is also affordable compared to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. However, hiring a caregiver may still be out of reach for many families.

1. Home Care Agency

A popular option for hiring a caregiver is through a home care agency. Hiring a caregiver through an agency allows seniors to have personalized one-on-one attention and flexible pricing (choosing less hours means saving on costs). You are also not responsible for any employer obligations like payroll tax and being held liable for any injuries that happen at home. However, this means that agencies pass administrative costs to the family which may still be unaffordable.

2. Family Caregivers

Did you know that there are an estimated 40 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States? Family caregivers perform a wide range of duties like paying bills, running errands, and helping with light household chores. Many family caregivers dedicate on average 20 hours a week towards providing care and some take time off work as well—resulting in a loss of earnable income. While being a family caregiver can save you money, your loved one may have needs that go beyond what you can support.

3. Local Classifieds

You can hire a caregiver directly through your local classifieds or online directory. Hiring a caregiver directly, and not through an agency can provide more affordable home care for your loved one, but there are some extra hurdles. You will need to personally interview and screen potential candidates. This involves meeting with the caregiver, verifying their references, and performing a background check. If your loved one needs care immediately, this process may be difficult and time consuming to do properly.

4. eCaregivers

After learning about using eCaregivers, you can find private caregivers with rates starting at $10-$14/hour for care, versus $20-$24 with an agency, helping you save thousands of dollars in a year while still ensuring quality home care for your loved one. All of the caregivers on eCaregivers have passed a background check so you have a peace of mind that you’re hiring a vetted caregiver for your loved one.

About the Author

Peter Kang is a writer for eCaregivers. He is inspired by his caregiver experience with his late grandfather and role model, a Korean War veteran, to help families find affordable care for their loved ones. Follow Peter on Facebook and Twitter.

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By Jim|2023-05-18T11:31:38-05:00May 31st, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Relaxation for Caregivers: 01 Introduction

By Jim|2023-01-30T17:07:51-05:00February 25th, 2023|News Posts|Comments Off

Caregiver Stress: Tackling Tough Decisions In the Age of COVID

Caring for and making decisions for an aging and sick parent is never easy. But as the coronavirus continues to complicate matters for older adults, it can be even more challenging to know how and when to step in. However, sometimes choices must be made, and when that time comes, it pays to be prepared. Senior Care Central explains what you need to consider.

How Does the Virus Affect Seniors?

Scientists and doctors have made inroads in pandemic research, and all are resolute in reporting that older adults are in the highest risk category. As Johns Hopkins explains, those over age 60 with pre-existing conditions, such as lung disease and diabetes, are at the greatest risk. For these reasons, if you are caring for a senior with a health condition, the decisions you make now are that much more important to their overall health and well-being.

Getting It Together

Even if you’ve already discussed your senior loved one’s wants and wishes, you may not be legally able to make decisions if they take a turn for the worse unless you have legal documents in place. Elder Protection Center lists the most pertinent of these as a medical directive, power of attorney for health care, power of attorney for finances, revocable trust, and a will.

Each of these documents allows you to give direction in different areas. For example, the healthcare power of attorney lets you quickly make decisions about things like medical treatment in case your loved one is incapacitated. Becoming appointed as the executor of a will gives you the power to carry out their final wishes as far as their estate and belongings go. Making arrangements while your loved one is able ensures their wishes are met.

Hospice Care

As your loved one declines, it may be necessary to arrange for hospice care. If your loved one’s illness worsens and they cannot take care of themselves and they need assistance maintaining a medical condition or hands-on care when it comes to bathing, dressing, and eating, it’s likely time for hospice care to take over. You might even be attempting this care yourself, but find yourself in a burnout situation, in which case a professional is the best choice for you both.

Financing the Future

If your loved ones’ needs outweigh their ability to continue in their current living situation, it might be necessary to sell their home to cover expenses. Keep in mind, however, that the real estate market has changed in response to COVID-19.

First, find out what you can earn from the sale of the home by running some calculations online. It’s also a good idea to learn about your local market to help with your decisions. You can get a better idea of what their home might sell for by doing some research on market trends in the area. If their property value has dropped dramatically, it may be wise to wait and use other means to pay for expenses until the market perks back up.

For instance, you could rent out the property to generate income to cover your loved one’s living expenses. Just bear in mind that by turning the home into a rental, you or your loved one will be responsible for tenant vetting, maintenance and upkeep. You’ll also need to gauge the cost of local rentals. Denver apartment rentals right now are averaging $1,874 for a one-bedroom. If this seems like an ideal scenario, you can also work with a property manager to handle rental operations for a small percentage.

Key Takeaways

The coronavirus affects senior citizens, and that can make it more difficult for caregivers to make decisions about their well-being.
Without having legal documents in place, any decisions you do make may not be carried out.
Real estate prices may affect your loved one’s ability to pay for care, and research may be needed when facing a home sale.

Again, it’s not easy to make decisions for a loved one, particularly one who has a life-limiting illness and may not be able to offer input. But as a caretaker, making decisions is something that you have to do. As the world continues to remain uncertain, having a plan in place now can save you and your entire family from indecision and heartache during what is surely one of the most stressful times of your life.

By Jim|2023-12-22T12:14:26-05:00January 9th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

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