For
caregivers: tips for addressing chronic illness care
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[October 01, 2011]
(ARA)
- Every day, nearly 66 million Americans provide care for a
seriously ill, disabled or aging family member or friend. This can
be a real challenge, particularly when the person you care for has
been diagnosed with a chronic illness. Here are some tips that will
make the process easier:
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* Establish
good communications with care providers. Be sure you and the
person you care for understand the medical condition and its
implications. With the patient's permission, health
professionals can have frank conversations with caregivers about
treatment, including prescription drugs. Do not be afraid to
seek a second opinion, if desired.
* Know your options. Some chronic conditions can be effectively
managed and monitored at home, while some require lengthy stays
in a hospital or managed care facility. Work with the health and
medical teams to get a clear picture of the prognosis and care
requirements. To the fullest extent possible, the person you
help should make his or her own decisions about treatment
options. If you're authorized to make any of these decisions on
their behalf, you have a special responsibility to ask questions
about what outcomes can be expected and the type and amount of
help that will be needed.
* Know where to turn for help. Created by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the Ask Medicare initiative
offers numerous resources, including a newly updated Web site,
to support caregivers who are taking care of a chronically ill
loved one. The site, www.medicare.gov/caregivers, offers
detailed information on several of the most common chronic
illnesses, including cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
The site also provides tips on how to work with Medicare to
receive preventive and treatment services and highlights the
challenges in providing care to those with serious illnesses.
* Take care of yourself. Feelings of depression and frustration
are common when a loved one is seriously ill, and many
caregivers benefit from having a support network that includes
people who are dealing with the same types of issues. Many
hospitals and treatment facilities offer in-house counseling,
and the Administration on Aging's Elder Care Locator (www.eldercare.gov)
can offer information on local support groups as well.
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Groups such as
the National Cancer Institute and American Diabetes Association also
offer support services for caregivers. Visit the National Cancer
Institute at www.cancer.gov and go to the "cancer topics" and
"coping with cancer" links. Visit the American Diabetes Association
at www.diabetes.org and go to the "Living with Diabetes" link for
more information.
* Learn about financial support that may be available. Chronic
illnesses can lead to significant expenses. Ask Medicare offers a
wealth of information on programs that can help you save money on
Medicare premiums, drugs and living expenses along with links to
state and national programs that may offer financial assistance.
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