Practical Caregiving Tips for Daily Life

Caring for someone with cancer looks different for every person and every day. Some days may go smoothly. On others, you may need a little extra support. Many caregivers balance caregiving with work, family, or other responsibilities, and handle unexpected challenges along the way. These practical ideas for common situations can help make daily life easier for you and your loved one.

Working while caregiving

Many people provide care for their spouses, partners, aging parents, children with special needs, or other loved ones while working. But balancing a job with caregiving tasks can be challenging.

Talk with your employer about your situation. Many employers understand the challenges caregivers face and are willing to offer options when possible. For example, you might be able to:

• Adjust your work schedule to attend to your loved one’s appointments or other caregiving responsibilities.
• Work a reduced schedule, for example, by working half-days or taking 1 day a week off for doctor visits.
• Take paid leave when caring for a spouse or close relative.
• Take time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows certain employees up to 12 weeks off per year to take care of a seriously ill family member (spouse, parent, or child).

Some workplaces offer additional support. If your workplace has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), look into what it offers. Some offer services including counseling for money concerns, stress, or depression.

Finding balance as a caregiver

Caring for someone with cancer can make it difficult to keep up with other responsibilities and find time for yourself. You may be balancing caregiving with school, work, raising children, relationships, friendships, or other commitments.

Have an honest conversation with family members and loved ones about what help is needed. Ask for help and share responsibilities. Clear communication can help reduce confusion and make caregiving more manageable.

If family or friends are not available to help, reach out to neighbors, local support groups, or a home care agency. Even a few hours of help can give you some time for a break and help you maintain balance in your life.

Caregiving for people with other health conditions

Some people with cancer also have other health conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, or high blood pressure. These are sometimes called comorbidities or coexisting conditions. They can affect cancer treatment, and treatment can sometimes cause new health problems. As a caregiver, you can help by staying organized and keeping everyone on the care team informed.

• Keep a current list of medicines. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Bring the list to every appointment and update it when anything changes. This helps the care team spot possible interactions.
• Keep pharmacy contact information with the list. If your loved one uses more than one pharmacy, write down each name and phone number. This helps their cancer care team and pharmacists check for duplicate prescriptions, medicines that may interact, or medicines that could be unsafe to take together. Different pharmacies may not have a complete record of all the medicines your loved one takes.
• Ask how other conditions affect treatment. Ask the cancer care team how your loved one’s other health conditions might change the treatment plan, side effects, or recovery. Ask which symptoms to report right away.
• Make sure all providers know about the cancer. Tell doctors who treat other conditions about the cancer treatment and ask them to share information with the cancer care team.
• Plan for changes in memory and thinking. If your loved one has trouble remembering, try a pill organizer, phone alarms, or a written schedule. Ask the care team to give instructions in writing or write things down yourself.
• Plan for changes in balance and strength. Tell the care team if your loved one has more trouble walking, keeping balance, or doing daily tasks. They may suggest physical therapy or tools that can help.

Making daily activities easier and safer

Assistive devices, also called adaptive equipment or independent living aids, can help your loved one stay as independent and safe as possible. They can also make caregiving easier by reducing strain on your body when you help with walking, transferring, or bathing. Even small items can make a difference.

Think about which daily tasks are hardest right now, then look for tools that fit.

Finding the right tools

Talk with the cancer care team or an occupational therapist and be specific about what’s hard for your loved one to do, such as eating, showering, or getting in and out of a bed or chair. They can suggest tools and help you find where to buy or rent them. Some may be covered by health insurance.

Managing financial challenges

Cancer and its treatment can create financial stress for you and your loved one. Costs of cancer care can include medical bills, prescriptions, transportation expenses, and time away from work. Financial stress can make it harder to focus on your loved one’s daily care and decisions about treatment.

Talk about financial challenges and ask for help early. A cancer navigator, social worker, or case manager may be able to help you find resources that meet your needs. Look for assistance with payment deadlines for cancer care, transportation, lodging, and caregiver pay.

Coping with hearing, speech, or vision challenges

Difficulty with hearing, speech, or vision can make it harder for someone with cancer to communicate with their cancer care team, caregivers, family, and friends. Whether it’s a disability the person has lived with for a long time or a recent side effect of the cancer or its treatment, there are ways to keep supporting and including your loved one.

If the problem is new, don’t wait to ask for help. The cancer care team can recommend a specialist, such as an audiologist for hearing, a speech-language pathologist for speech, or an ophthalmologist for vision.

Keep in mind that these communication challenges do not necessarily mean your loved one has difficulty understanding, thinking, or making decisions. Avoid making assumptions about what they can understand or do based on their communication challenge, and make sure they feel respected and heard.

Here are some key tips to support your loved one. You don’t need to try everything at once. Start with 1 or 2 that fit their needs, and let them set the pace. Learning new tools can be tiring, especially when they are also coping with cancer.