November is National Family Caregiver Month

In November, we will be celebrating caregivers and thanking them for all they do. We can all agree that a cancer diagnosis affects close friends and family, too. During this National Family Caregiver Month, take a moment to thank the caregivers in your life and encourage others to do the same.

The American Cancer Society offers a Caregiver Support Video Series.  This video series offers educational support as cancer caregivers assist with the everyday needs of their loved one, as well as self-care techniques to improve a caregiver’s own quality of life.  Videos in the series include:

  • Physical Care Training: drain care, lifting, pain management, medication management, symptom/side effect management, and identifying signs of infection.

  • Caregiver Self-Care: nutrition, physical activity, stress management and coping, dealing with fear of recurrence, and deep breathing/meditation.

  • Advocacy: how to effectively communicate your loved one’s needs to the cancer care tea.

  • Caregiver Stories: caregivers share their experiences through the ups and downs of their journey.

This series is also available in Spanish.

The American Cancer Society also offers an Interactive Caregiver Resource Guide.  The American Cancer Society Caregiver Resource Guide is a tool for people who are caring for someone with cancer.

 This resource is available either online or in a downloadable PDF.

 You can access all the American Cancer Society’s resources for Caregivers and Family here.

 

Christie Finnegan