The Foundation salutes all Cancer Caregivers for their encouragement, steadfast support for their loved ones, and all the special qualities demonstrated by their commitment and dedication to do, and be, their best every day.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT / TIPS:
If you are about to become a Cancer Caregiver, the American Cancer Society offers valuable information: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY VIDEO SERIES FOR CAREGIVERS
Caregivers are a crucial part of any cancer care team. The goal of this video series is to provide educational support to caregivers as they assist with the everyday needs of cancer patients and provide self-care techniques to improve their quality of life.
Create a back up plan for you and your loved one. Emergencies can happen, and they’re almost always unexpected. That’s why you should always be prepared. Learn more.
Helping your loved one prepare for appointments; a short guide.
Ensure that your loved one understands their treatment plan going forward. Encourage your loved one to be actively engaged and a self advocate in partnership with their oncology multidisciplinary care team. Visit this resource.
Understanding your loved one’s mental health. These may be some of the hardest days of your loved one’s life, but there are ways to help them find joy and face this battle with a more positive mindset.
NLMSF SUPPORTIVE PODCASTS:
Caring for the Caregiver. The accompanying PowerPoint is accessible here.
Introducing Morning Pages, a self-driven Cognitive Support Therapy Concept. View the accompanying PowerPoint here.
The Fearless Caregiver Guides provide the vital support family caregivers need to learn the skills to achieve the best care for their loved ones…and for themselves.
The Cost of Caregiving
Unpaid caregivers in the U.S. provide services worth $470 billion according to the AARP. Around half of cancer caregivers have jobs while caregiving. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires that employers with 50 or more workers allow caregivers to take off work for up to 12 weeks annually without pay to care for a parent, spouse or child. Four states–California, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York–passed laws enacting paid family leave programs funded through payroll taxes that allow caregivers to receive part of their usual salary while on leave. Since 2014, 39 states have passed the Caregiver Advise, Record, and Enable (CARE) Act. This legislation, developed by AARP, requires hospitals to ask patients if they would like to have hospital staff include the name of a designated caregiver in their records, notify that person when the patient is going to be discharged or moved, and provide training to the caregiver on what to do to help the patient at home. It is not easy for the caregiver to remember all that was learned in a training session. There is much information being given to patients and their families, and it can be overwhelming because of the anxiety, stress, and uncertainty of being prepared to handle things at home once discharge takes place.