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Tips for Caregivers
Caring for a loved one with a serious disease can be both a deeply rewarding and stressful experience. We hope this information is helpful to you.
- Give yourself and your loved one time to adjust to the diagnosis
- A positive attitude is beneficial for you and your loved one
- Giving care to a loved one with cancer requires patience, flexibility, courage and a good sense of humor
- Good communication is essential to learning how best to work with your loved one
- Plan special times together away from the routine of treatment, such as a special evening out for dinner, a movie or play, etc
- Talk hopefully and positively about the future
- 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 persons
- To better understand you're loved one's diagnosis, treatment and progress, be an active participant during clinic visits
- Use a journal or notebook during your loved one's appointments to take notes and 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 counselor to provide insight and support
- Set up a list of activities that your family or friends can sign up to do weekly or monthly
- Make time for regular exercise, meditation or some other form of relaxation to help reduce your stress
- If care is long term, arrange for extended periods of relief so you can re-energize
- 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
- Taking care of yourself is important: get adequate rest and nutrition, and take time for personal care
- Select funny movies to watch together - good humor is healthy for the body and soul
- Allow yourself private time to do nothing, or something important to you
- Spiritual support through prayer or the guidance of a spiritual leader can be good medicine
- Designate a family member or friend who can help field phone calls regarding your loved one's progress
Remember, you can find the support you need through Social Workers and support groups at North Star Lodge and elsewhere in the community. Being a caregiver can affect you emotionally, physically and financially. Take advantage of caregiver support groups and credible websites for resources and support.
Palliative Medicine
Palliative care is an area of medicine specialized in symptom management related to your cancer diagnosis and treatment, and may include (but are not limited to) pain, nausea, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, difficulty of sleeping, depression and anxiety.
The Palliative Care Committee at YMHM unites a group of healthcare professionals with specialized training in symptom management, and consists of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, physical therapists and psychologists and others. The goal is to help reduce these symptoms so that you will have the ability to enjoy life to the fullest.
Talk to your physician regarding palliative care. The following palliative care services can be provided in conjunction with your cancer therapy or when curative therapies are no longer indicated:
- Physical Symptom Management
- Psychosocial Support and Consultation
- Spiritual Counseling
- Complementary Therapies
- Advance Directives
- Family Support
For a referral to this service, please speak with your physician. A survey will be used to identify your palliative needs. With your permission, your treating physician will be contacted if the survey indicated that you might benefit from our Palliative Care services.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPAHC)
Our hospital admission process includes information about DPAHC, copies of which are available in the Admissions Department. Issues covered by the DPAHC are important -- life-prolonging treatment, appointment of a third party to act on personal wishes if incapacitated -- and must be completed by the patient while he is competent. Although the DPAHC does not require a notary, it must be witnessed by two individuals, ideally those well known to the patient. Unless they are a personal friend of the patient, health care workers are not considered witnesses for DPAHC purposes. For questions, please contact our social services at 574-3407.
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