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Caregiving is an enormous responsibility, and it is common for caregivers to discover that they can't physically or emotionally manage all of their caregiving tasks and need to find new caregiving options. It is important to recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength, not of weakness, and is a proactive way of making caregiving responsibilities more manageable.
While some caregivers prefer turning to family and friends for help, others want hired help from local community agencies or private duty services. Ask an oncology social worker or nurse for names of organizations or individuals who provide professional caregiving services. Resources include the following:
Friends and family. Make a list of people who are part of the patient's personal support system and identify who could best help with specific caregiving tasks. This list could include emergency contacts, close friends and relatives, neighbors, church or synagogue members, and others in the community.
Respite care services. Respite care services allow the primary caregiver a much-needed break. A respite care worker may be a helper who is simply a companion for the person with cancer or one who is skilled in basic nursing care. Some respite workers are employed by an agency, others are self-employed, and some are volunteers.
Community resources. Investigate community resources that might be helpful. Consider using in-home services or adult day care. Hire a homemaker to cook and clean or an aide to help with bathing, eating, dressing, using the bathroom, or getting around the house.
Hospice services. Hospice care offers a full spectrum of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support for people living with advanced cancer and their families. Find out how hospice care (link to hospice care) can help coordinate all aspects of care.
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