Essential Support and Resources for Cancer Caregivers

When your loved one has cancer, you, the caregiver, need help, too. The type and frequency of assistance can vary dramatically from person to person. However, finding extra support for cancer caregivers is an absolute must.

The nonprofit Cancer Support Community surveyed its members and found that these were the caregiving tasks they most often performed:¹

• 98 percent provided emotional support
• 96 percent went with their loved one to medical appointments
• 82 percent helped with decision-making
• 79 percent coordinated medical care
• 80 percent provided transportation
• 74 percent helped manage finances

To help you find the support you need, we put together some resources for you, the caregiver of a person with cancer. Caregiving can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Here are a few suggestions for finding the services and help you need to make this journey more manageable.

How can the medical team help a caregiver?

Many cancer treatment teams include a nurse, a patient navigator, or a social worker who specializes in answering patient and caregiver questions. If you have questions about services or need extra support, these members of the treatment team are often excellent resources for practical help specific to your community and your loved one’s needs.

Because your treatment team works with so many patients, they will probably have recommendations for support groups, helpful services, and ideas that have worked for other cancer caregivers.

The benefits of using hospital mobile apps

Many hospitals now have mobile apps designed specifically to support their cancer patients and their support person. What’s included in an app varies by hospital, but most include maps with wayfinding directions to ease the stress of moving between the parking garage and the various locations for specialist appointments, radiation, testing, and more.

The most robust apps let you download the overall treatment plan, use a calendar to keep track of appointments, access test results, and list medications alongside direct contact information for the treatment team.

Where to find online support and tracking tools

Whether you are using an Apple or Android mobile device, an iPad or a desktop computer, there is an app, a podcast, or a website designed to help you in your role advocating for your loved one with cancer. Here are a just a few examples:^2-8

• MediSafe App: Medication regimens for cancer can be complicated. If you are worried your loved one isn’t taking their drugs properly, this app can help. It lists all the drugs and sends your loved one personalized reminders when it is time to take the next dose. It also sends caregivers real-time, missed-medication alerts.
• Clinical Podcasts: Podcasts can provide a wealth of information to help you better understand your loved one’s diagnosis, learn how you can help them, and find the extra support you need as a caregiver. Shows like Cancer.net, Frankly Speaking About Cancer, and CancerCare all examine various aspects of caregiving, including the most vital component: self-care.
• Peer Associations: Associations such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Cancer Society support online communities where caregivers can ask questions directly and offer one another support.
• Coordination Websites: Websites like Caring Bridge and PostHope allow you to create individual websites where you can share updates about your loved one and effortlessly coordinate help from friends and family.

How to manage the challenges of long-distance caregiving

Today’s family and friends often live far apart from one another, so long-distance caregiving is a reality for many. The good news is that a wealth of advice, services and apps are available to help long-distance cancer caregivers with everything from communications to transportation to laundry. Here are just a few:^9-12

• GoGoGrandparent.com: If you aren’t able to drive your loved one yourself, you can order an Uber or Lyft through this platform for a small additional fee. The service allows you to schedule rides for regular appointments and will text you when your loved one is picked up and dropped off.
• Lotsa Helping Hands and Caring Village: These apps help you coordinate and communicate with local helpers and the treatment team. They allow you to group message others to ask for help with transportation, meal delivery, errands, and companionship, and let them provide feedback on how your person is doing. Caring Village also lets you store important documents and medication lists.
• Meals On Wheels: This program can be an excellent resource for nutritious food, transportation, pet care, and medical equipment if your loved one is 60 or older. The cost is based on what you can afford to pay. Also, if you search online for “meal delivery for cancer patients” you will see several more expensive services.
• Automated Pill Dispensers: If your loved one needs help with a complex medication regimen, an automated pill dispenser may provide the answer. These dispensers can be loaded with medications weekly or monthly and programmed to open and dispense drugs at a set day and time.

Where to recharge your caregiving batteries

Recognizing the vital role that a support person plays in a cancer patient’s life, a host of national organizations offer online and in-person support. These resources include:13-16

• The Cancer Support Community: Offers an excellent booklet on caregiving from a distance with practical tips for all aspects of taking care of someone with cancer.
• The Family Caregiver Alliance: Hosts a state-by-state database to help caregivers locate public, nonprofit, and private programs and services in all 50 states.
• The National Cancer Institute (NCI): Offers many evidence-based suggestions to help caregivers. The NCI also publishes a free caregiver booklet.

Remember, caring for someone with cancer does not mean that you must do it alone. These are just a few of the resources you can and should call on to help you manage your loved one’s care.