What can I do to Help my Family Member
or Friend with Cancer or other Chronic Disease?
- Spend time and talk with the individual. Let them
take the lead.
- If they want to talk be a good listener.
- Try to feel comfortable when there is a lull in
the conversation. Silence can often be more comforting.
- Remember patients do not always want to talk or
think about their disease.
- Try to involve your family member or friend in
as many shared activities as they can tolerate. (i.e.,
play cards, watch movies, include them in family decisions,
take car rides, sit out in the garden)
- Keep your promises. If you say you are going to
stop by, follow through on your promises.
- Run simple errands. Often these small tasks seem
insignificant but can provide great relief to the
patient and/or family.
- Write a little note letting them know you are thinking
about them or make a quick phone call.
- Allow privacy for the patient.
- Help put disease in perspective by obtaining accurate,
factual and honest information.
- Discuss needed changes in family roles and activities.
Decide what is important, what needs to be done, what
can be delegated, and what can wait.
- Most important, be yourself!
- Don’t minimize the effect of the illness, but don’t
be overprotective.
- Continue to visit, call, write, and encourage the
patient to do things with others.
Hoffman, Barbara et al.
"A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac—Charting Your Journey" 1996
118-129.
Baxandall, Susanne, Reddy,
Prasuna. "The Courage to Care—The Impact of Cancer on
the Family". 1993 pp 153-177.
"Taking Time" National Cancer
Institutes. 1997.
Rural Partnership Linkage
for Cancer Care Newsletter. "Caregivers: Remember to take
care of yourself". July 1994.
Rural Partnership Linkage
for Cancer Care Newsletter. "What Can I Do to Help" January
1994.
Alzheimer’s Association
"10 Ways to Help Reduce Caregiver Stress" and "10 Signs
of Caregiver Stress".
