Taking on the role of a care partner can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Many experienced care partners will tell you that with a little guidance, it can also be a deeply fulfilling experience. To help you on your journey, we’ve compiled some helpful resources available online.
1.Leaning Into Grief: An Interview With Claire Bidwell Smith
Claire Bidwell Smith is a therapist, grief expert, and author. Click here for her interview about leaning into grief.
2. Cancer Today: Addressing Anger
Anger and Irritability are normal responses to a cancer diagnosis, and this article offers guidance for care partners of cancer patients.
3. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Palliative Care
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network released an easy to read, patient-centric Palliative Care guidelines that you can view and download. Click here.
4. “Caregiver Life Hacks”
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to care for someone because every care partner and situation is different. What helps one person might not work for another, but many care partners deal with similar challenges. Click here for some simple “life hacks” that might make your day a little easier.
5. “Caregivers Need Care Too”
“However, primary care partners are also thrust into an unfamiliar world of medical treatments, terminology, and appointments. This is why mutual support between the patient and the primary care partner is important—it is a partnership through thick and thin because both the patient and primary care partner need to learn about the complexities of the disease and treatments needed, as well as make important decisions together.” Click here for the full article.
6. Triage Health Caregiver Resources
Click here for a full list of resources about legal and practical matters like taking time off from work, managing family finances and medical bills, replacing lost wages, estate planning, and other resources.
7. Cancer Straight Talk Podcast: Advice and Support for Cancer Caregivers
The podcast Cancer Straight Talk features host Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes speaking with Dr. Allison Applebaum, the founder of the Caregivers Clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). This episode covers navigating the healthcare system and managing the emotions of caregiving.
8. Patient Power: Power of Care Partners: Who Has your Back?
This article is about the crucial role of care partners for people with chronic illness. It distinguishes a “care partner” as a full member of the care team, not just a caregiver. The article also provides advice on practical matters, like having a designated care partner with access to medical records, and emphasizes the importance of care partners looking after their own well-being.