Tips for Caregivers

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The feeling that your loved one is suffering from cancer can be overwhelming. While you care for your loved one, it’s equally important to take care of yourself. Here are a few important tips to follow:

·         Gather Information
Make sure you are well aware of all the outcomes of the disease that your loved one is suffering from. This includes the likely symptoms, seeking the right medical help and the after-effects of the treatment. There is truth to the phrase, ‘knowledge is power.’

·         Maintain hygiene standards
It is important to maintain an atmosphere of hygiene. Cancer patients are susceptible to infections. Cleanliness will ensure that the diseases are kept at bay – both for the patients as well as the caregivers.

·         Seek and accept a helping hand
It’s true that Cancer patients should seek and accept help. However, this is applicable even for the caregivers. It is okay to have a helping hand. It will definitely ease anxiety and lift spirits.

·         Stress Management
It’s an emotional time when a friend or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Dealing with it can be stressful. It is necessary for caregivers to cope with stress, uncertainty and loneliness which will, in turn, help them be better caregivers.

·         Finding and being a support system
As a caregiver, you are surely being a great support system for the patient.  But it is always good to reach out to a fellow caregiver who, being in a similar situation might also need help or might in turn provide a great support to you.

Above all, it is essential for the caregivers to themselves maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, exercise and nurturing a hobby. This will also inspire the patient to follow suit. Moreover, it is necessary for the caregivers to accept the situation and do what they can while also admitting what they can’t.

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