More than 90 million Americans are currently caring for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, diseases or the frailties of old age, according to the Caregiver Action Network.
While their experiences often overlap and involve many of the same emotional, physical and financial challenges, the fact of the matter is the experience of and expectations placed upon caregivers often varies dramatically depending on the needs and personality of the patient.
In a survey conducted by the Cancer Experience Registry, caregivers highlighted some of their most common responsibilities:
- 91 percent said they provided emotional support
- 80 percent went with their loved one to medical appointments
- 68 percent helped with decision-making
- 55 percent coordinated medical care
- 53 percent provided transportation
- 45 percent helped manage finances
Although a caregiver’s role is often shaped by the age and condition of the loved one he or she is caring for and the patient’s physical and logistical needs, the patient’s emotional needs are foundational in shaping the job description.
We live in a task-driven, action-oriented society, says Randy Nutter, a licensed clinical social worker with the St. Elizabeth Cancer Care Center, but often what a cancer patient needs most is to have someone listen to them. Caregiving isn’t just about the hard work of coordinating logistics and meeting a loved one’s physical needs. “For patients, a big part of dealing with their illness is dealing with grief,” he says. “Talking about that grief and sharing it with another person is healthy.”
It may sound cliché, he says, but “sometimes the most important thing they can do is simply be there. People get intimidated because they feel they don’t know what to say, but many times just listening can be helpful. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything at all.”
