Caring for the Caregiver
At The Life Center, we understand that loved ones with cancer are so reliant on their caregivers for support in the most basic necessities of daily living, from transportation and cooking to emotional support and reassurance. Caring for someone who is sick, worrying about the future and fulfilling daily responsibilities can be very exhausting and, oftentimes, lead to burnout. Our vision for you, the caregiver, includes being well rested, feeling emotionally understood, being refreshed and ready for the times when your loved one needs you the most. We can help, by providing naturopathic healthcare and homeopathic well-being support for the – oftentimes – overlooked health of the caregiver.
Another term for a caregiver is Co-Survivor. Being a Co-Survivor recognizes that you have undergone your own unique journey with cancer and a loved one’s diagnosis of cancer. We recognize this journey and are here to support you as you regain your health and vitality, to provide a safe place for emotional support, and bring your focus back to you and your health for a short period of time. Learn more about Co-Survivor support here.
When you feel 100%, you can give 100%. Remember, your health helps shape the health of your loved ones.
Treatment Focus for Caregivers
Stress support: Homeopathy, yoga, relaxation techniques, meditation and hydrotherapy.
Nutritional support: Individualized diet plans, easy meal planning, how to eat healthy on the run, weight management. Support your health with quality supplement prescriptions.
Acute illness support: Get you back on your feet to care for your loved one.
Emotional Support: Address your needs and concerns, help process grief, anxiety, fear, insomnia, and burn out.
Cancer Caregiver Research
Research has shown that a caregiver’s quality of life can become impaired even at early phases of disease. Therefore, intervention strategies for caregivers should be considered early during cancer treatment.1Spousal caregivers of cancer patients have increased risks of coronary heart disease and stroke that persist over time. Clinical attention should be paid to spousal caregivers, especially those caring for cancer patients with high mortality rates. 2
One study concluded that caregivers’ depression and perceived burden increase as patients’ functional status declines. Strategies are needed to help reduce the psychosocial, occupational and economic burden associated with caregiving.2
Another study’s findings stress that caregiver experiences are extremely varied amongst different groups and should be regarded as a multidimensional experience with both negative and positive experiences of caregiving. 3
References:
- RACHELA PELLEGRINO, VINCENZO FORMICA, ILARIA PORTARENA, et al. Caregiver Distress in the Early Phases of Cancer. Anticancer Res November 2010 30 (11) 4657-4663
- Jianguang Ji, Bengt Zöller, Kristina Sundquist, Jan Sundquist. Increased Risks of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Among Spousal Caregivers of Cancer Patients. Circulation. 2012;125:1742-1747, published online before print March 13 2012.
- Eva Grunfeld, Doug Coyle, Timothy Whelan, Jennifer Clinch, et al. Family caregiver burden: results of a longitudinal study of breast cancer patients and their principal caregivers. CMAJ June 8, 2004 170:1795-1801; doi:10.1503/cmaj.1031205
- Chris Nijboer, Mattanja Triemstra, Reike Tempelaar, Mirjam Mulder, Robbert Sanderman, and Geertrudis A.M. van den Bos. Patterns of Caregiver Experiences Among Partners of Cancer Patients. The Gerontologist (2000) 40(6): 738-746 doi:10.1093/geront/40.6.738
Caregiver Support Lines
http://www.youngcancerspouses.com
http://www.strengthforcaring.com
www.cleaningforareason.org As a nonprofit serving the entire United States and Canada, we partner with maid services to offer professional house cleanings to help women undergoing treatment for cancer, any type of cancer.
Today’s Caregiver – bimonthly publication magazine
12-week telephone group for people who have a loved one diagnosed with cancer.
To register, call 800‑813‑HOPE (4673).
Caregiver Resource Institute
Caregiver Resource Institute is a non-profit organization established in 1978, which educates, trains, and supports family caregivers and hospice volunteers free of charge to hospice patients and their caregivers.
Anthony Marseglia
communications@vfhaz.com
10404 W. Coggins Dr., # 110
Sun City, AZ 85351
(623) 583-4490, ext. 12
Neighbors Who Care, Inc.
Our purpose is to provide non-medical assistance to persons in our local community who are homebound because of chronic or severe illness, and to those who are full time caregivers for a loved one.
Bonnie Kosar
NWCBonnie@aol.com
Neighbors Who Care, Inc.
10450 E Riggs Road
Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
480-895-7133
