Caring for a spouse with mesothelioma cancer or another terminal is a huge undertaking that may include some tasks better suitable for a person in the nursing profession
However, there are thousands of women, husbands, son, daughters and friends without medical training who take on the role of caregiver, sometimes in their own homes. - And the number is increasing.
Some of these caregivers manage themselves, but there are resources on the Web, as well as courses they can take to learn the basics.
Often the caregiver work comes without warning, leaving little time to prepare for the responsibilities the role entails.
Giving Up a Company
When my husband, Brian, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, we lived in the coastal town of Exmouth in Western Australia, and I'm happy to run my own small business , The Bali Shop.
I imported clothes, shoes and items directly from Bali, Indonesia, and the sold in the shop. I started my business from scratch and enjoyed the challenge.
But the diagnosis of Brian ended any performance I had as a small business owner. It was impossible for me to focus on something other than my love for him and the little time we had left together. Not wanting to waste a moment of it, I put my stuff for sale after four years to own. Fortunately, it sold quickly.
Now I was a full-time caregiver, and I felt really vulnerable. What I really needed was a professional, but the town of Exmouth has no cancer support services.
information I found on the Web has enabled me to help Brian to cope with his illness. It relieved my stress, while providing care for Brian on my own was still a lonely and heartbreaking experience. Without the professional support I constantly struggling to stay above my pain and most of my needs were met.
Support Courses Away from Home
After Brian died, I worked with the support of Centre SolarisCare cancer in Perth. The center provides information and support to cancer patients and their caregivers.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that each caregiver who frequent the center is able to follow a course designed to help them in their caring role.
The course, led by a group of skilled practitioners, includes:
- effective communication skills
- medication management and medical safety
- Communicating in particular situations
- pain Management
- symptoms Management
- fight against fatigue strategies
- practical aspects of care
- a good nutrition and exercise
- Self-care
- complementary therapies
empowers courses and enhances the caregiver, helping them to acquire new knowledge and understanding, while keeping them feel less isolated.
for five years, I worked for the SolarisCare Support Center, I spoke to many men and women who have completed the course. Each said he enjoyed them, especially with the way he linked them to people in similar circumstances.
Although these courses are offered to caregivers in Perth and other parts of Australia, caregivers in the United States should consider researching local places offer classes.
You should check with the nearest cancer center. They could offer courses to their facilities or know other organizations and health care organizations that provide basic courses to help caregivers.
