Caregiver Guide

CAREGIVER GUIDE

Caregiving for Your Parent or Adult Child While many prostate cancer caregivers are partners, sometimes the role of primary caregiver falls to children or parents. It can be a difficult transition for a child to become their parent’s primary caregiver. Most children have leaned on their parents for support and care, and now the roles may be changing. Allow yourself to feel sad or angry about these relationship changes. Your parent is likely also sad and angry, and may even feel guilt about relying on you for their caregiving. Likewise, parents who care for their child with cancer often feel anger and guilt. Parents want to protect their children from life’s hardships and difficult feelings, even as adults. So it may not seem fair that your child is the one who has cancer. Remember: Set boundaries if needed . If your dad (or adult son) needs assistance with bathing or using the bathroom, neither of you may be comfortable with you helping in those ways. Establishing and discussing boundaries of what you are capable of, and what you are comfortable with, can help you both plan for the care needed. Discuss the difficult topics , like finances, insurance, and what to do if the level of care needed increases. Prostate cancer treatment and long term care, if needed, can drain financial resources. Arm yourself with information and ensure you have an understanding of the patient’s desire for their care. Get support , whether it is via a partner, siblings, or friends, through online caregiving forums or support groups, or seeing a mental health professional. Communicating with Other Family Members and Friends Often caregiver duties include updating family and friends about how the patient is doing. It is important to ask the patient what information they want shared, and with whom. Many patients and caregivers find that group emails or texts, private social media groups, or websites such as caringbridge.org are easy ways to provide updates.

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