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What You Can Do To Be a Supportive Caregiver Here are six steps you can take to be an effective caregiver:
This is your most important and challenging job. The person you are caring for must deal with the physical effects of the disease and medicine as well as the psychological and social challenges of living with advanced cancer. This may make it difficult for the patient to participate in the home care plan. Nonetheless, your job is to involve as much as possible the person you are caring for in making decisions and carrying out the plan. You should support the person’s efforts to deal with the reality of the prognosis emotionally, and this includes efforts to: Help the person to accept that he
or she has advanced cancer. Sometimes, what looks like “denial” is the patient’s attempt to protect loved ones from what is really happening. If this is the case, reassure the person that you are willing to listen and talk about all aspects of the illness - even though it may be hard for both of you. Support the patient’s efforts to live as normal a life as possible, but if he or she is pretending that nothing is wrong, you need to be clear in your own mind about what is really happening. This is when your own objectivity is important in making sure that the patient is benefiting from his or her pretending and not doing things that could be harmful. Create a climate that encourages
and supports sharing feelings. Communicate your availability. One of the most important messages you can give to the person you are caring for is this: “If you want to discuss this uncomfortable issue, I’m willing to do it.” Leave the timing up to the patient, however. To the greatest extent possible, leave decisions on what feelings to share as well as when, how, and with whom to share them up to the patient. By not pressing the issue, you allow the person with advanced cancer to retain control over part of his or her life at a time when many issues and decisions are no longer under his or her control.. Understand that men and women
often communicate in different ways, and make allowances for those
differences. Be realistic and flexible about
what you hope to agree on or communicate. Sharing does not always mean talking, either. The person with advanced cancer may feel more comfortable writing about feelings or expressing them through an activity. He or she may express feelings in other nonverbal ways as well, such as through gestures or expressions, touching, or just asking that you be present. Help the patient to deal with
anxiety and depression. Many people feel depressed at some time during their illness. Seek advice on how to control depressed thoughts and feelings, especially when they are just beginning. When you and the patient disagree
on important issues: Remember that you and the person you are caring for do
not always have to agree. You may disagree on issues such as when, how, and what
to share, but remember that this is one of the patterns of life and cannot
always be resolved. When this is the case, the following suggestions may prove
useful: Suggest a trial run or time limit. If you want the person you are caring for to try something, such as a new bed or a certain medication schedule, and he or she is resisting, ask the person to try it for a limited time, such as a week, and then evaluate the situation. This avoids making the patient feel locked into a decision. If the person resists writing a will or power of attorney, ask if he or she will at least read one and discuss it. Choose your battles
carefully. Let the patient make as many of
his or her decisions as possible. Support the patient’s spiritual
concerns. Spiritual questions are not answered easily, of course. For those people whose faith gives answers and comfort, your support of that faith will be both helpful and appreciated. For those who are troubled by uncertainty, you can help by sharing your own questions and uncertainties - showing that their concerns are normal and reasonable. If you can admit to the possibility, it may be helpful to say that not all spiritual questions can be answered. It also may useful to ask about beliefs that were helpful to the patient before this illness and if they can be helpful again now. Professionals such as clergy or counselors who have experience helping people with spiritual problems near the end of life can be very comforting to the person you are caring for, provided that he or she wants their help. Spiritual questions are very personal; therefore, the person with these concerns is the one who knows best who can help. Bringing in someone who is not wanted can backfire and cause rather than resolve problems. Let the person you are caring for know that you will be happy to arrange visits by clergy or others who could help, but that this decision is entirely up to him or her. Do not expect all clergy to be equally skilled in working with people during the last stage of life, however. If one is not helpful, keep looking until you find one who is. Hospice or palliative care staff can help you locate someone with the necessary skills, and hospital chaplains usually are experienced in working with people near the end of their lives and may be able to help. If the patient is seriously depressed because of spiritual concerns, seek help from a mental health professional or clergy with training in mental health care. Also, be available to listen. Speaking with another person who is understanding helps to put one’s thoughts in perspective and also to see that others appreciate and understand them. The person with advanced cancer may want to make sense of his or her life experiences, to reminisce, talk about the past, and look for meaning in what has happened. As a caregiver, listening is the most important thing you can do to help. Let the person you are caring for know about your willingness and availability for these discussions when and if he or she wants them. If you find it very difficult to listen to the patient’s concerns, then find someone, such as a member of the clergy, family member, or friend, who can. For people whose religion is very important and gives meaning to both their lives and their dying, you can help by asking questions that allow them to tell you, if they wish, what about their faith has helped them through life and is helping them now. You must be careful to accept and respect views that are different from your own, however. Let them tell you if there are ways you can encourage and support them in their faith. Would they like to listen to a tape of hymns or other religious music? Is there a religious symbol that would bring them comfort? Would they like to share with clergy from their faith one of their traditions, such as a bedside prayer service? Share your views and feelings when you are asked or think that he or she would like to ask. Hearing another person’s thoughts and feelings can be helpful to someone who is troubled by spiritual problems, but always let the person you are caring for be your guide - never impose. Sometimes, reading together from spiritual writings can be comforting and may help to resolve unanswered or unresolved questions. These readings also can provide an opportunity to share how you feel about these issues as well. You may be worried yourself about spiritual questions. Watching and helping someone who is dying sometimes can bring up very difficult issues. These may be about the unfairness of the situation, fear about what will happen to the person you are caring for after his or her death, fears about your own death, and general confusion and anxiety about what life is about. Talking with clergy, counselors, hospice staff, or health professionals who work with the family and friends of dying people can be very helpful. They have experience helping those like yourself. They will listen and help you to think through these issues. You may find it easier to talk to some people more than others, and you also may find that some are more helpful than others. If the first people you talk to cannot help you, keep looking until you find the person who can. Help to resolve the patient’s
unfinished business. Do not expect that the experiences you arrange will always be successful. Even with the best of intentions, things may not happen as you or the person you are caring for would like. The weather may be less than ideal for the trip. The people you work hard to bring together may not say helpful things once they arrive. When it is over, both of you may be disappointed. The fact that you tried, however, can be very important - and this may make all of the effort worthwhile. Before committing to such a major undertaking, ask yourself how you and the person being cared for would feel if the experience is less than you hope. Would it still be worth the time and resources? If your answer is no, ask what you could do that would be less costly or stressful. If your answer is yes, then move ahead (with realistic expectations). Working with Health
Professionals Be clear about what you want, and
get to the point as soon as possible. Have all the information that
health professionals may need ready when you call. Write down the
answers. Be firm and straightforward about
getting the information and the help that you need. Working with Family and Friends Do not try to do everything
yourself. Ask for help. People who live in the same household or are going to be very involved in carrying out a plan should help in developing it, and they should read and understand this guide. Then, they will be able to work with you and the patient as a team. If they have had a hand in its development, they will be more committed to carrying out the plan. Others may want to help but need to be told how. It is important to be clear with these people about what you would like them to do as well as the limits of what is expected of them. Taking care of your own needs and
feelings It is natural to have strong feelings when you are helping someone with a serious illness. Some common feelings that caregivers have as well as strategies for dealing with them if they become severe are: Feeling
overwhelmed Try not to make important decisions while you are upset. Sometimes, you must make decisions immediately, but you often do not have to. Ask the doctor, nurse, or social worker how long before a decision needs to be made. Take time to sort things out. Talk over important problems with
others who are feeling more levelheaded and rational. Anger These feelings are normal. What is important is what you do with them, not that you feel them in the first place. The best way to deal with angry feelings is to recognize them, accept them, and find some way to express them appropriately. If you do not deal with your anger, it can get in the way of almost everything you do. Here are some ways to deal with your anger: Try to see the situation from the
other person’s point of view, and understand why he or she acted that
way. Express your anger in an
appropriate way before it becomes too severe. Get away from the situation for
awhile. Find safe ways to express your
anger. Talk to someone about why you feel
angry. Fear Learn as much as possible about
what is happening and what may happen in the future. Talk with someone about your
fears. Loss and sorrow: Talk about your feelings of loss
with other people who have had similar experiences. Guilt Although feelings of guilt are understandable, they can interfere with doing the best possible job of care giving. Guilt makes you think only about what you did wrong. Most problems have many causes, and what you did most likely is only part of the reason (assuming it even has anything to do with the problem at all). To solve a problem, you must look objectively at all of the causes and then develop a plan to deal with the entire situation. For example, if you feel anger toward the person you are caring for, this is partly because of what he or she did as well as what you did. To deal with the cause of that anger, you need to talk openly with the person you are caring for about what both of you did - not just feel guilt about what you did or feeling angry. Your goal here is to work toward forgiveness, both for yourself and for the other person. Dwelling on feelings of guilt about the past will rob you of the precious energy you need to cope with the present. Here are some ways to deal with feelings of guilt: Do not expect yourself to be
perfect. Do not dwell on
mistakes. Possible Obstacles 1. “He doesn’t want to talk about feelings.” Response: He is the best judge of that. Your job is to make sure the opportunities to listen are there when and if he decides to talk about his feelings. 2. “What if she talks about things that I don’t want to hear?” Response: Even if what are hearing hurts you, consider it in the larger picture of what it means for the patient to be able to express it. Remember that you do not have to resolve everything. You are helping even if you only listen. 3. “She won’t follow my advice.” Response: If you are feel frustrated because the person you are caring for will not follow your advice, try to understand how important it is for the patient to retain some control over her life. You may know what is best for her, but realize that your job is to support, not to make decisions for her. If you have a dominant personality or usually have been the one to make decisions in your family, be prepared to practice letting go. 4. “I don’t have time to take care of my own needs.” Response: This is the most common reason that caregivers become exhausted. They become preoccupied with problems and do not pay attention to themselves. You will be a better caregiver in the long run if you take the time (especially when stress is high) to get help so that you can do things that you enjoy and relax you. 5. “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.” Response: Yes, it will. No one is indispensable. You also should sort out things that really need to be done versus those you would like to see done. It is perfectly acceptable to let some things, such as housework, slide a bit when you take on new responsibilities. 6. “I hate asking other people to help me.” Response: There are two ways around this problem. First, you can get together socially with people who could help and let them volunteer. Second, you could have someone else ask for help for you. Try to make the times when others visit both pleasant and rewarding, then they will want to visit and help. 7. “The person I’m helping doesn’t want anyone else to help.” Response: Suggest trying to get help for just a short time, after which you can talk over how it worked. Also, explain to the person you are caring for that you need the help, not him or her. Think of other obstacles that
could interfere with carrying out your plan. Carrying Out and Adjusting Your Plan Carrying out your
plan Checking on results If your plan does not
work Be realistic in your expectations about feelings being shared. Most people do not change their styles of communicating quickly. If you cannot do the things that are essential for the person you are helping, talk with the doctor, nurse, or social worker about getting the help that you need. If you become so upset that it interferes with your ability to do what needs to be done, or you are experiencing severe depression or anxiety, talk with the doctor, nurse, or social worker about getting help. The American College of Physicians gives permission to reproduce and distribute copies of this chapter provided it is not altered and its use is not for profit. For information on translation, subsidiary, and for-profit use, contact David Myers. Phone: 215-351-2642; fax: 215-351-2644; email: dmyers@mail.acponline.org. |