How to Care for a Senior Loved One with Cancer
February 4 is World Cancer Day, when we remember those coping with this disease as well as those that have passed away or gone into remission. Here is some insight for hospice care in South Jersey for caregivers compassionately caring for a senior loved one with cancer.
What is the role of a caregiver?
Caregivers take on a wide range of tasks to assist the patient or loved one, from providing emotional support and assisting with medical care to managing financial or insurance issues and communicating with the healthcare team.
This extensive and challenging role can easily become overwhelming, especially if you have your own career and family. Both professional and personal support is essential, not only to help you cope, but also to ensure a high quality of care.
As a caregiver, it’s important to be positive and proactive as well as compassionate in your role – especially if you are caring for an elderly loved one – in order to make sure that they get the best possible treatment and quality of life care from their medical team. This is a big responsibility for many people who need to know the limits of what they can handle  to get support and assistance.
Although doing it out of love, caring for an elderly loved one with cancer can quickly become a demanding full-time job that puts caregivers under a lot of pressure. Self-care becomes essential and professional services can step in and deliver high-quality respite care whenever required.
What care options are available when cancer is terminal?
There may come a point at which doctors agree that medical treatment will not cure the cancer or improve the patient’s quality of life — this is the time to consider hospice care. The Shores, a leading assisted living community, offers Bridges, a uniquely compassionate and professional hospice dedicated program in Cape May County.
With an emphasis on creating a nurturing and comforting environment, Bridges offers customized services that not only support your loved one, but you and your family as well.
To find out more about Bridges, our hospice dedicated neighborhood or our senior retirement living in South Jersey, please contact us today and organize your visit.
