{"id":2174,"date":"2021-10-23T04:54:48","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T04:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/?p=2174"},"modified":"2021-10-23T04:56:14","modified_gmt":"2021-10-23T04:56:14","slug":"who-cares-for-you-addressing-care-giver-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/who-cares-for-you-addressing-care-giver-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Who cares for you? Addressing care giver needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2174\" class=\"elementor elementor-2174\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-54b4e636 elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"54b4e636\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5496805\" data-id=\"5496805\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38c29fa1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"38c29fa1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\n    .entry-header, .entry-footer, .show-avatars{\n        display: none;\n    }\n<\/style>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-71c95803 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71c95803\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-68b1d306\" data-id=\"68b1d306\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58682676 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"58682676\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Who cares for you? Addressing care giver needs<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a26a0b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a26a0b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You have just heard that someone you know has cancer. You need to take care of this person .<\/p><p>The initial shock may last for a few days and then you start thinking about your role as a care giver and the responsibilities that go with it.<\/p><p>Who is a care giver? Usually a family member \u2013 most often the spouse, son, daughter in law, daughter, brother, sister, sometimes an aged parent or even a neighbour or a friend .<\/p><p>The demands that come with this role and the impact that this will have on your life depends on the person you are caring for and the extent of care required.<\/p><p>Navigating the maze of caregiving is tricky. What does caring mean? It is managing the needs of the person you are caring for and your own physical and emotional needs too.<\/p><p>The experience of dealing with the diagnosis , especially\u00a0\u00a0communication , in many instances is\u00a0\u00a0emotionally draining. Many times the family chooses not to disclose the diagnosis to the patient particularly in\u00a0\u00a0advanced cancer.<\/p><p>Whatever it is, it involves balancing caregiving with other demands such as work, family, study etc. It could be for a short time or for many months or even years.<\/p><p>Some fit into the role of care giving very naturally, willingly while others may be forced into it out of a sense of duty.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><u>The Caring Role :<\/u><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Varies , depending on the situation.<\/li><li>Can change over time\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>It could involve managing medical, emotional , practical, sometimes legal and financial worries too.<\/p><p>A care giver may be accompanying the patient to the hospital, managing medication administration, managing side effect, offering emotional support, preparing meals, updating family and friends about the status or progress of the patient\u2019s condition.<\/p><p>That\u2019s almost a 24\/7 responsibility .<\/p><p>But, it\u2019s important to understand your own feelings too. You could experience a wide range of feelings that can be an emotional roller coaster- from a sense of satisfaction that you are helping someone to absolute helplessness and distress when things are not going well.<\/p><p>Common feelings encountered are worry, anger, frustration, and stress, a feeling of being out of control, exhaustion, burnout, guilt, loneliness, and depression.<\/p><p><strong><u>How to manage your emotions?<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>Although it is hard to find time and energy to look after your own emotional\u00a0\u00a0wellbeing , you can use some simple strategies\u00a0\u00a0to feel in control :<\/p><p>Take a break, a respite; get someone to pitch in for a few hours on a weekly basis\u00a0<\/p><p>Relax, read, and listen to music,practive mindfulness &amp; meditation<\/p><p>Join a yoga class, take Taichi lessons\u00a0<\/p><p>Regular exercise has shown to help with anger, stress and anxiety<\/p><p>Talk ! \u2013 share your concerns.\u00a0\u00a0Uncertainty can be very stressful.\u00a0\u00a0To find out what to expect, speak with the doctor.\u00a0<\/p><p>Most importantly, be kind to yourself, don\u2019t feel guilty . No one is perfect . Its\u00a0\u00a0a demanding role and accept that you are doing your best.\u00a0<\/p><p>Consider joining a support group \u2013 face to face or onlin e. It could be empowering .<\/p><p>Accept help \u2013 to reduce workload.<\/p><p>All these techniques may help you overcome venting out your frustrations or anger which\u00a0\u00a0may adversely impact patient\u2019s wellbeing.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><u>Caring for yourself\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>While caring can be rewarding, through the sense of satisfaction it provides, it can affect your health and wellbeing , relationships, career and finances.<\/p><p>It can drain you physically and emotionally.<\/p><p>Ensure you don\u2019t neglect your own needs .<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Eat healthy, try to get enough rest\/sleep, exercise,\u00a0\u00a0have regular medical check ups.<\/p><p>Ask for help \u2013 it is difficult sometimes, but is not a sign of weakness. It will definitely relieve some of your stress and pressure. People want to help.<\/p><p><strong><u>How to Cope\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>At times when you feel burdened or overwhelmed\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>Focus on the value of caring \u2013 acknowledge that it is a demanding, difficult task that you have taken on and giving it the best you can .<\/li><li>Many find that this is a time when a spiritual connect is discovered and\u00a0\u00a0introspection helps in personal development\u00a0<\/li><li>Feel good about the new skills that you may be learning along the way \u2013 feeding, nursing . A lot of knowledge is gained with this experience\u00a0<\/li><li>Learn to enjoy the discipline, commitment , love, that this role brings with it.<\/li><li>Many people look back on the period of caring and are filled with a sense of satisfaction that cannot be quantified.<\/li><li>Set boundaries and limits- about what you are comfortable doing, what you can manage.<\/li><li>It helps to prioritise and organise your time, keep a journal to note the good days and bad.<\/li><li>Make time for yourself \u2013 socialise, exercise .<\/li><\/ul><p>Over time, expect that relationships can change, especially with spouses, children. New roles and responsibilities will crop up as the disease progresses especially in advanced cancer.<\/p><p>Empathy is necessary along with a clear understanding of what will help the patient , especially when they start feeling annoyed or distressed at the loss of independence .\u00a0\u00a0Many times you may think it selfish on your part to talk about your needs when\u00a0\u00a0the other\u2019s need or discomfort is much more , but remember that you can provide better quality of care only if you take care of yourself .<\/p><p>With advancing disease, you will have to shift your mind set from maintaining hope to accepting palliative care., especially if it involves someone you deeply love.\u00a0<\/p><p>Remember that through all this you need not be alone<strong>.\u00a0\u00a0A Support group for caregivers is a dependable shoulder for you to lean on and help you surf the choppy sea of caring .\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who cares for you? Addressing care giver needs You have just heard that someone you know has cancer. You need to take care of this person . The initial shock may last for a few days and then you start thinking about your role as a care giver and the responsibilities that go with it.&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/who-cares-for-you-addressing-care-giver-needs\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Who cares for you? Addressing care giver needs<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insights","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2174"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2183,"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2174\/revisions\/2183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innogenx.co.in\/prameyahealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}