Tips for Caregivers

Being a caregiver for a loved one is an important role in their recovery, but caregiving often comes with its own set of challenges. Caregivers must learn to balance many new tasks in addition to their daily routine. Some of these new roles include: 

• Nursing assistant: Taking on caring for a loved one’s physical needs, such as managing medication, assisting in changing, and bathing
• Counselor: Being a sounding board and source of support to your loved one
• Homemaker: Taking on more responsibilities in the home that your loved one may no longer have the energy to complete, including making meals, cleaning, and buying groceries
• Primary child care: If you have children, you may be handling most of the child care while also providing emotional support to your children as they process their own emotions related to your loved one’s diagnosis
• Wage earner: If your loved one cannot work, you may become responsible for providing the financial resources to maintain the household
• Advocate: Representing your loved one’s needs and desires for medical treatments, insurance coverage, work accommodations, and other matters

Taking on these new roles may create changes and challenges in your relationship as you both adapt to the diagnosis and create your new normal.

When this happens, remember it is common; with time and communication, you both will adjust. Keep an open dialogue with your loved one so both of your needs are vocalized, understood, and met.