Mesothelioma Caregiver Duties

Understanding the extent of mesothelioma caregiver duties allows families to fully prepare for the care of their loved one. Coming together as a family to discuss these tasks and responsibilities helps everyone involved understand the scope of what lies ahead and how to plan accordingly.

Mesothelioma caregiving duties may start out as minor tasks that slowly transition into more demanding forms of care as the cancer progresses. Most mesothelioma patients are older than 60, and this means they may require more care even in the initial stages of the cancer’s progression.

Creating a care plan helps families agree on how to handle and divvy up a growing list of caregiving duties.

How to Create a Care Plan with Family & Doctors

A care plan outlines a patient’s medical needs, treatment plan and daily care required to promote health. Creating a care plan with the patient’s doctors and family members helps the patient get the care they need to thrive.

A care plan also serves as a point of communication between family members to keep everyone updated on the patient’s health and changing needs. For example, when an aspect of care is changed, such as changing the time a medication is taken, the care plan can be updated and redistributed to everyone providing care.

If you are unsure what kind or level of care may be required, you can hire a professional to complete a care assessment. This will provide detailed information on the kind of care a mesothelioma patient will need.

Medical Care

A mesothelioma patient typically requires a high level of medical care. Mesothelioma caregivers may become responsible for the following medical-related duties.

Prescription Medication Management

Another major component of medical care involves managing medications. In a 2021 research study, caregivers predicted an improved prognosis for their patients when both were in agreement about managing multiple medications.

Driving and Arranging Appointments

Caregivers often arrange for and drive their loved ones to medical and social appointments. Consider the following tips to help with driving and making appointments.

Cooking and Nutrition

A big part of caregiving is making sure your loved one gets the nourishment they need. The nutritional needs of mesothelioma patients vary depending upon the treatments they receive, the medications they take and co-existing health conditions.

Caregivers should plan accordingly for the following duties.

Grocery and Meal Delivery Services

Handling these tasks is time consuming. Caregivers can save time with grocery and meal delivery services. The availability of these services varies upon where you live. You can research options online.

The costs for these services range from affordable to expensive. Grocery delivery involves an annual or monthly fee for delivery in addition to the cost of the food you order.

Meal delivery costs depends upon several factors such as whether the meal is frozen or contains fresh ingredients. For example, Meals on Wheels is an affordable option that delivers frozen meals. Hello Fresh is a costlier option that delivers meal kits containing premeasured, fresh ingredients to make a meal at home.

Bathing and Grooming

Many caregivers help their loved one with bathing, grooming and maintaining hygiene. While this is one of the hardest parts of caregiving for many people, it is important to maintaining the patient’s quality of life.

Housekeeping and Laundry

Maintaining a clean house and keeping up with laundry is hard for a single caregiver to do alone. These tasks are important to reducing a mesothelioma patient’s exposure to germs, colds and flus. Reach out to family, friends and neighbors for help with the following duties.

Companionship and Socialization

Companionship and socialization can boost mood and improve quality of life among mesothelioma patients. Caregivers may find themselves fulfilling the following duties.

Caregivers are also strongly encouraged to socialize and connect with friends to take a break from caregiving. This time away spent with friends helps caregivers release stress and recharge.

Financial Accountability

Caregiving also involves taking over financial matters, which is challenging if it was handled by the mesothelioma patient prior to their diagnosis. Caregivers may need to ask a trusted loved one for help in this area, or they can consider hiring a financial or legal advisor.

Being Prepared for the Unexpected

Caregivers are encouraged to prepare for unexpected emergencies and health events. Feeling prepared can reduce anxiety in caregivers and patients when the unexpected arises.

Consider the following duties to prepare for unexpected events and final decisions.

Should I Hire a Caregiver?

Deciding whether to hire a professional caregiver can be hard on families facing mesothelioma. Some families are unsure if they will feel comfortable with someone else caring for their loved one. While other families want outside help, but don’t know how to afford it.

In most cases, it takes more than one caregiver to care for someone with mesothelioma. Often, families come together and divide tasks among family members. Spouses or adult children tend to take on a primary caregiving role, and this role requires a lot of support from secondary caregivers.

When primary caregivers don’t get enough help, they should consider hiring a professional caregiver.

Different types of caregivers are available for hire, including personal care assistants, home health aides, licensed nursing assistants, skilled nursing providers and registered nurses. Full-time and part-time help is available.

Qualities to Look for in a Caregiver

Respite Care

Respite care offers short-term relief for primary caregivers. This kind of care can be arranged for a few hours, several days or weeks. It may be provided at home, at a health care facility or adult day center.

The cost of respite care varies and sometimes insurance may cover a portion. For example, Medicare covers most of the cost of up to five days in a row of respite care for patients in hospice.