Caring for caregivers: How the American Cancer Society helps people caring for someone with cancer

TheoryLab

Finding out that a loved one has cancer can bring many changes. Doctors and nurses receive years of training in patient care, but family caregivers are often thrust into this role overnight with no training on the critical processes that their loved ones depend on them to do properly every day. Rachel Cannady—as Strategic Director of Cancer Caregiver Support at the American Cancer Society—creates resources that empower caregivers with the resources and information they need. Visit https://cancer.org/caregivers to learn more about what to expect if you become a caregiver for a person with cancer, and get tips for making sure that you take care of yourself as well. Among the resources there are the Interactive Caregiver Resource Guide and the Caregiver Support Video Series. The Interactive Caregiver Resource Guide is a comprehensive tool to help you learn how to care for yourself as a caregiver, better understand what your loved one is going through, and develop skills for coping and caring. It can be accessed or downloaded here: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/cancer-control/en/booklets-flyers/american-cancer-society-caregiver-resource-guide.pdf The Caregiver Support Video Series provides 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. Short videos provide guidance related to, for example, drain care, managing side effects, and managing medication. It’s available at https://www.cancer.org/treatment/caregivers/caregiver-support-videos.html. 2:20 – Creating evidence-informed resources for cancer caregivers 4:12 – On the village of cancer care in the United States 6:27 – “The bigger the village, the better the help” Some of the many responsibilities of cancer caregivers—information seeking, emotional support, decision making, navigating financial concerns, etc. 9:53 – On findings from the National Quality of Life Survey for Caregivers, a study that followed a group of caregivers over eight years 16:01 – “Nearly 50% of the caregivers at post-diagnosis said that they need help helping their loved one deal with the emotional stress of cancer.” 17:30 – There’s also a positive benefit from providing care – caregiving can create meaning in people’s lives 20:33 – The Caregiver Resource Guide, the Caregiver Support Video Series, and other resources developed through the American Cancer Society’s Caregiver Support Program https://www.cancer.org/treatment/caregivers.html 29:16 – How these resources can empower caregivers and help them feel more confident, prepared, and at ease 31:20 – On the impact of COVID-19 on cancer caregiving