November is National Caregivers Month.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, their pain, fears and uncertainty can weigh them down. Their caregiver often experiences a depth of pain, fear and uncertainty too, but may not always show it. Many caregivers feel their duty is to hide their own feelings because the person they love is so very ill.
But caregivers need care too. This month, think about some ways you can reach out and care for a caregiver. Following are just a few simple ideas of ways you can offer much needed support:
- Offer to give the caregiver some time away so they can go out with friends or relax a little.
- Send a nice card or gift or leave a basket of goodies on the front porch (massage oil, iTunes gift card, magazines, chocolate are all great items for a gift basket).
- It's the holiday season! Bring the family a nice Thanksgiving meal. Surprise them by coming over with a tree and lights and decorate their house. Do their holiday shopping for them.
- Mow the lawn, do the laundry, clean the house, go grocery shopping, pick their kids up from soccer practice, etc.
- Arrange meal deliveries to be conveniently dropped off.
- Find local businesses willing to donate gift cards (cards for restaurants, movie theaters, etc.)
- A simple phone call! And don't ask about the patient this time. Just ask the caregiver, "How are YOU doing?"
- Put together a "hospital waiting room" goodie bag - fill it with snacks, reading materials, a journal and pen, coins for the vending machine, small games, craft materials, etc.
- Send them to the spa (or send that super cool guy out for a day of golf or fishing).
- Pray with them. Hold their hand. Let them cry or talk about their feelings. Just listen.
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