The Best Advice for Professional Caregivers Providing Cancer Care
Being given a diagnosis of cancer is life-changing, and having a strong network of support is vitally important. When someone in your care is undergoing cancer treatment, you may feel uncertain about how to provide the best support without overstepping boundaries or making the person feel uncomfortable for any reason. Sometimes the best advice for caregivers in this situation is the following.
Be there. Simply being present, to listen, talk, and even laugh together when appropriate, can be uplifting to someone who wants to maintain a sense of normalcy in spite of the diagnosis.
Pay attention to meals. Cancer treatment, such as chemo and radiation, can cause exhaustion, so it often becomes difficult to prepare meals. It can also impact how food tastes. Ask the person in your care what foods he or she might find appetizing, and then plan and prepare meals accordingly. It may take some trial and error to find what is most appealing.
Find out exactly what the person needs. Many times, someone with cancer or another chronic condition will hear from friends and family, “Let me know if you need anything!” It’s then up to the person with the condition to determine what’s needed, and to reach out to those who offered. As a professional caregiver, be sure to find out specifically what will help the person. One day, it may be household chores, laundry, and meals, but on another day, he or she may want more time for companionship and fun activities to provide a welcome distraction.
Become educated. Learn as much as you can about the type of cancer the person has been diagnosed with to better understand what he or she is facing. Check with trusted online resources such as the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Serve as an advocate. Help the person organize any questions and concerns before the next doctor’s appointment. If he or she wishes, attend the appointment and help make sure each one is addressed.
As the leading provider of home care services in Walnut Creek and nearby areas, Hillendale Home Care is here to help those with cancer live more comfortable lives at home. Contact us for more information and resources, or to learn about joining our team of care professionals through our CNA and HHA school.
