Caregiving is often a role you take on with little to no planning in advance.
The responsibilities are wide-ranging and many of them may be new to you. Even so, caring for your loved one is rewarding and learning to be a caregiver can help you provide the best possible care for your loved.
What you should know
Being a caregiver is when you give regular assistance to a loved one with a serious illness.
It is not a job that you get paid for. It is something that you choose to do or must do when your loved one cannot help themselves.
Scott Leone
As a parent it is very difficult to see her suffer and not know whether she are going to come out of this. However, we were able to find support from the great doctors, nurses, the Light The Night team, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.
Marie-France
I am so thankful from the bottom of my heart that life, research and science gave my son the chance to be healthy again today. No matter what happens, I know that every day is a gift from life, and we have to live each one to the fullest.
What it means to be a caregiver
A starting point for how to be the best caregiver you can be
Caregiving for a child with blood cancer
As a parent, you can take an active part in your child’s follow-up care, being aware of long-term and late effects of treatment, helping your child return to school and even dealing with your emotions.
Communication and relationship changes
What you say and how you talk to your loved one can be the difference between a rewarding experience and a frustrating one. Learn how caregivers take care of relationship changes, intimacy issues, childcare and communication.
Talking to children
Find the right approach to talk to kids of varying ages about their loved one’s blood cancer diagnosis.
Managing treatment and side effects
Are you worried about your loved one getting an infection when their immune system is weakened from treatment? This guide will keep you organized and help you take the right steps to avoid any possible risks of infection. Get tips on what can do to help your loved one manage side effects from treatment such as types of foods to avoid.
Nutrition
Help your loved one make good food choices, what you avoid when choosing and preparing meals, and tips for buying groceries.
Keep a list of all your medications and supplements
Any prescription or over-the-counter medications, and supplements like vitamins and minerals that your doctor has prescribed should be tracked. Take the list with you whenever you see a new doctor as part of your treatment.
Worksheets to manage cancer care
It can take a lot of effort to stay organized and on top of everything you need to know or do as a caregiver. We’ve created easy-to-follow worksheets that will help to keep you organized and ultimately save you some time.