Cancer is an equal opportunity nasty disease! It affects celebrities. Some of the famous people who have died in 2009 include Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett, Wayman Tisdale, Bea Arthur, Jack Kemp, Don Hewett, and Ted Kennedy. It affects our loved ones. I have several friends waiting for me in heaven due to cancer! I’m grateful I also have a couple of relatives who got cancer but did NOT die. They did, however, require caregiving, as did those who have gone on ahead of us.
I’m sure that many of us who are providing senior home care giving to aging parents are either dealing with cancer, have dealt with cancer, or will deal with cancer. It’s a difficult job and I salute each and every one of you as you care for your loved one with courage and, occasionally, tears.
Here are some tips and resources that I hope will help you on this difficult path:
An interesting article, Cancer hurts caregivers, too.
The Association of Oncology Social Work provides tips, links, and caregiving helps specific to caregivers helping patients with cancer.
One site I discovered as part of the most recent Boomers & Seniors: News You Can Use included the Top 50 Oncology Blogs!
The Cancer Blog provides self care tips for cancer caregivers.
Cancer Symptoms offers Tips to Help Caregivers Manage their Own Fatigue.
If you know of other sites that provide useful resources and information for senior home care givers and grandparents who are helping cancer patients, please let us know in the comments section below.
