Quality of Life 082412
1
of of Caring for a friend or family member who has cancer is not easy. It may only get more difficult when a caregiver lives far away. Long-distance caregiving may not be ideal for the patient or the caregiver, but it’s sometimes the only option. Long-dis- tance caregivers can expect their out-of- pocket expenses to be higher, as the cost of travel alone is likely to be considerable. While long-distance caregiving may not be ideal, the American Cancer Society offers the following tips to help men and women entrusted with caring for a cancer-stricken friend or family member from afar. • Make sure your loved one’s home is safe. When you get the chance to visit your loved one’s home, make the most of that visit and ensure his or her home is safe. If the illness has made things more difficult around the house, address any of these issues before you return home. Patients who receive chemotherapy are often weakened after treatment, so it can help to install some grab bars in the bathroom or purchase a shower seat to reduce the risk of falling in the shower. In addition, make sure handrails inside and outside the Tips for long-distance caregivers home are secure. If they’re loose, tighten them so they provide adequate support. • Clean up around the house. Cancer patients may also be too weak to keep up with their chores around the house. A dirty home can be depressing to men and women battling cancer, so clean up around the house to brighten the home and reduce the risk of an insect or rodent infestation. • Be ready for a crisis. No one wants to imagine a situation in which his or her loved one suffering from cancer has an emergency, but caregivers need to do just that. Have someone you can count on nearby to check on your friend or family member if you suddenly cannot reach the cancer patient. Introduce yourself to your loved one’s next-door neighbor or meet a close friend who lives nearby that you can contact should your friend or family mem- ber prove difficult to reach. • Make a list of medications and update it regularly. Cancer patients often take certain medications as part of their treatment and recovery, and caregivers should make a list of these medications, periodically updating the list as the treat- ment and recovery process progresses.* Make sure your loved one has a cell phone. Though it might seem hard to believe, some people, especially the eld- erly, still do not have cellular phones. When serving as a long-distance caregiver, it’s imperative that you can easily and rou- tinely reach your cancer-stricken friend or relative. Cancer treatment might make it difficult for him or her to get to a land line, so be sure he or she has a cell phone that he or she can carry with them at all times. Program important numbers, including your own number, as well as his or her- physician’s and a neighbor’s or nearby relative’s number, into the phone. • Stay in touch with the patient’s phy- sician. While a physician might not be able to share all the details of your loved one’s condition, you can keep in touch with him or her to stay abreast of how the treatment and recovery process is going. A physician can help you tailor your caregiving to best manage the patient’s needs, adjusting that plan as the treatment and recovery proc- ess evolves. 10 Friday, August 24, 2012 CITIZEN’S NEWS 203-720-9311 246 Rubber Ave., Naugatuck A SUBSIDIARY OF NAUGATUCK AMBULANCE INC. • 24 Hour 7 Days a Week Monitoring • Call 911 for Police, Fire, and Ambulance Emergencies • Notify Family Members of Emergencies • Notify Family Members of Non Emergency Requests • Notify Neighbors of Non Emergency Requests • Also Available - Automatic Medication Dispenser • and Much More. Affordable Peace of Mind for Your Loved Ones $ 25.95 per month FREE INSTALLMENT WITH THIS AD REGISTRATION NO. HCA0000115 WHERE THE HEART IS PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM For Your Personal Peace of Mind, We are Pleased to Offer Where the Heart is PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM Drs. Bruce and Marilyn Vinokur* and Dr. Jessica Vinokur *Fellows American College of Foot Surgeons Welcome New Patients The FootCare Group, L.L.C. • Diabetic Foot Care • Heel Pain • Warts • Bunions • Nail Problems • Foot Injuries Same Gentle, Professional Care - Same Locations 17 Westerman Avenue • Seymour, CT • 203-888-6668 255 Robbins Street • Waterbury, CT • 203-755-2050 Surgi-Center and In-Office Foot Surgery
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Quality of Life 082412
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of of
Caring for a friend or family member who has cancer is not easy. It may only get more difficult when a caregiver lives far away.
Long-distance caregiving may not be ideal for the patient or the caregiver, but it’s sometimes the only option. Long-dis -tance caregivers can expect their out-of-pocket expenses to be higher, as the cost of travel alone is likely to be considerable.While long-distance caregiving may not be ideal, the American Cancer Society offers the following tips to help men and women entrusted with caring for a cancer-stricken friend or family member from afar.
• Make sure your loved one’s home is safe. When you get the chance to visit your loved one’s home, make the most of that visit and ensure his or her home is safe. If the illness has made things more difficult around the house, address any of these issues before you return home. Patients who receive chemotherapy are often weakened after treatment, so it can help to install some grab bars in the bathroom or purchase a shower seat to reduce the risk of falling in the shower. In addition, makesure handrails inside and outside the
Tips for long-distance caregivershome are secure. If they’re loose, tighten them so they provide adequate support.
• Clean up around the house. Cancer patients may also be too weak to keep up with their chores around the house. A dirty home can be depressing to men and women battling cancer, so clean up around the house to brighten the home and reduce the risk of an insect or rodent infestation.
• Be ready for a crisis. No one wants to imagine a situation in which his or her loved one suffering from cancer has an emergency, but caregivers need to do just that. Have someone you can count on nearby to check on your friend or familymember if you suddenly cannot reach the cancer patient. Introduce yourself to your loved one’s next-door neighbor or meet a close friend who lives nearby that you can contact should your friend or family mem -ber prove difficult to reach.
• Make a list of medications and update it regularly. Cancer patients often take certain medications as part of their treatment and recovery, and caregivers should make a list of these medications,
periodically updating the list as the treat -ment and recovery process progresses.* Make sure your loved one has a cell phone. Though it might seem hard to believe, some people, especially the eld -erly, still do not have cellular phones.When serving as a long-distance caregiver,it’s imperative that you can easily and rou -tinely reach your cancer-stricken friend or relative. Cancer treatment might make it difficult for him or her to get to a land line,so be sure he or she has a cell phone that he or she can carry with them at all times.Program important numbers, including your own number, as well as his or her -physician’s and a neighbor’s or nearbyrelative’s number, into the phone.
• Stay in touch with the patient’s phy-sician. While a physician might not be able to share all the details of your loved one’s condition, you can keep in touch with him or her to stay abreast of how the treatment and recovery process is going. A physician can help you tailor your caregiving to best manage the patient’s needs, adjusting that plan as the treatment and recovery proc - ess evolves.
10 Friday, August 24, 2012CITIZEN’S NEWS
203-720-9311246 Rubber Ave., NaugatuckA SUBSIDIARY OF NAUGATUCK AMBULANCE INC.
• 24 Hour 7 Days a Week Monitoring• Call 911 for Police, Fire, and
Ambulance Emergencies• Notify Family Members of Emergencies• Notify Family Members of Non
Emergency Requests• Notify Neighbors of Non Emergency
Requests• Also Available - Automatic Medication
Dispenser • and Much More.
Affordable Peace of Mind for Your Loved Ones$25.95 per month
FREE INSTALLMENT WITH THIS AD
REGISTRATION NO. HCA0000115
WHERE THE HEART ISPERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM
For Your PersonalPeace of Mind,We are Pleased to Offer
Where the Heart is PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM
Drs. Bruce and Marilyn Vinokur*
and Dr. Jessica Vinokur
*Fellows American College of Foot SurgeonsWelcome New Patients
The FootCare Group, L.L.C.• Diabetic Foot Care • Heel Pain
• Warts • Bunions
• Nail Problems • Foot Injuries
Same Gentle, Professional Care - Same Locations17 Westerman Avenue • Seymour, CT • 203-888-6668
255 Robbins Street • Waterbury, CT • 203-755-2050
Surgi-Center and In-Office Foot Surgery
