Did You Know...Facts About Caregivers?

About 65 million Americans are caregivers for a family member or loved one. Being a caregiver can impact your physical, emotional, and financial health and well-being. Some facts about caregivers:

• About 61% of caregivers are women. These may be spouses, partners, siblings, children, or neighbors.
• About 1/3 of people with cancer are cared for by a man.
• Caregivers may have to do things that they have never done before, such as paying bills, laundry, shopping, and cooking.
• About 24% of caregivers are caring for two or more people.
• 85% of caregivers found the benefits of caring for their loved one outweighed the disadvantages, but 10% found caregiving to be a burden.
• Caregivers report higher levels of sleep problems, worry, poor appetite, and depression.
• Family caregiving in the US costs about 600 billion dollars each year for all health conditions.

As a caregiver, it is important to take care of yourself so that you can care for your loved one. Don’t forget your own needs and ask for help when needed. Be sure to keep up with your own medical, dental and mental health appointments.

The Caregiver Action Network made these "10 Tips for Family Caregivers":

1. Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!
2. Take care of your health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
3. Accept offers of help and try to ask for specific things that people can do to help you.
4. Learn how to communicate effectively with healthcare providers.
5. Caregiving is hard work, so try to take breaks when you can.
6. Watch out for signs of depression and don't delay getting professional help when you need it.
7. Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.
8. Organize medical information so it's up-to-date and easy to find.
9. Make sure legal documents, like power of attorney and health care proxy are up-to-date.
10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

Visit OncoLink's section on caregiving for education, tips, and resources to make this journey a good one.

Resources for More Information

• Caregiver Action Network
• Help for Cancer Caregivers
• National Alliance for Caregiving
• Lotsa Helping Hands