From OHC

November 21, 2018

Many caregivers find it a natural part of their lives to help a family member or friend with an illness. It allows them to show how much they love and respect their friend or loved one. Caregiving can mean helping with day-to-day activities such as doctor visits or preparing food. It can also be long-distance, coordinating care and services for your loved one by phone or email. Caregiving can also mean giving emotional and spiritual support. Many patients often just want someone to listen and then help them work through the many feelings they may be experiencing.

Giving care and support isn’t always easy. The natural response of most caregivers is to put their own feelings and needs aside. They try to focus on the person with cancer and the work they need to do. It’s important for caregivers to take care of themselves, too, because if don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.

November is National Family Caregivers Month when we recognize the numerous contributions caregivers make to help family, friends and others through their cancer treatment and survivorship. It’s an opportunity to say, “Thank you,” to these healthcare heroes for their support. Here are 30 ideas on how you can thank the caregivers in your life:

  1. Say “thank you”
  2. Give a day off – guilt-free
  3. Do something together that you both enjoy
  4. Drop off supplies for a favorite hobby, such as knitting yarn or a new book
  5. Invite his or her children for a play date
  6. Pick up extra groceries for them on your next shopping trip
  7. Talk about something other than cancer
  8. Fill their vehicle with gas
  9. Help a new caregiver get organized with his or her new role
  10. Put together a package for writing notes, including stamps, pens, and assorted note cards
  11. Ask for a list and run errands
  12. Organize and schedule other friends to provide dinner
  13. Mow the lawn
  14. Create a Caregiver Kit with essentials such as blanket, snacks, book
  15. Sit with the patient for an afternoon
  16. Donate house-cleaning services or offer your own services
  17. Leave a basket of muffins or cookies by the front door
  18. Provide a favorite movie for the caregiver and patient to enjoy together
  19. Offer to take their car for routine service
  20. Drive the patient to a medical appointment
  21. Transport kids to school and activities on a regular basis
  22. Deliver a bag of essentials to make easy but healthy lunches
  23. Help fill out insurance and other paperwork
  24. Provide handyman services
  25. Create an online page to keep family and friends updated and offer to post regularly
  26. Research resources for the patient and caregiver
  27. Donate your professional services such as legal or accounting
  28. Walk the dog and take care of pets
  29. Do the laundry
  30. Stay in touch and be a good listener

OHC (Oncology Hematology Care) has been fighting cancer on the front lines for more than three decades. We are the region’s leading experts in the treatment of nearly every form of adult cancer and complex blood disorder. OHC offers the latest medical, gynecologic and radiation therapy, and is always seeking better treatment options through participation in clinical trials. OHC is certified by the American Society for Clinical Oncology in the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification Program, is an accredited Oncology Medical Home, and is one of only 179 practices nationally to be accepted into the Medicare Oncology Initiative. At its heart, our approach to cancer care is simple – to surround you with everything you need so you can focus on what matters most: beating cancer. For more information about services and careers at OHC, call 1-888-649-4800.