When considering the challenges that your senior may face when they are dealing with a cancer journey, the first thing that likely comes to mind is the physical challenges. You consider their symptoms, their diminished health, and even how their treatment will impact their body. What you might not think about is how this experience will influence their mental and emotional health. Understanding cancer-related distress is an important part of helping your parent through this experience and supporting their health and well-being as they cope with their diagnosis, treatment,
and other aspects of this experience.
Cancer-related distress is the unpleasant, difficult emotions and feelings that your senior, and you, can experience as a response to the entire journey with cancer.
Some of the emotions and responses related to this distress include:
• Anxiety
• Hopelessness
• Sadness
• Guilt
• Powerlessness
• Fear
• Panic
• Uncertainty
• Depression
These feelings can be extremely challenging both for your elderly parent and for you as their family caregiver and their adult child.
Dealing with them in a healthy and productive way is a critical element for both of you being able to get through this journey in the best way possible. It is important to remember that experiencing some level of these emotions and feelings is totally normal and does not indicate that something is wrong. When they become overwhelming or negatively impact your functioning or your quality of life, however, it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Talk to your parent’s doctor about how you can help them and consider looking into support groups or other forms of professional support to help both of you manage effectively.
Starting home care for your aging parent can be an exceptional way for you to support a higher quality of life as they age in place. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your parent on a customized schedule designed specifically to address your elderly parent’s individual needs, challenges, and limitations. These highly personalized services help your parent stay healthy, safe, comfortable, and happy while also encouraging as much independence as possible.
Services ranging from…. safe and reliable transportation, meal preparation and eating assistance, help with personal care needs such as bathing, toileting, and dressing, companionship, and help with caring for their home can encourage your parent to maintain a more fulfilling lifestyle and support greater motivation and mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being as they age in place. As their family caregiver, this can give you confidence that they are getting what they need both when you are able to fulfill their needs and when you are not.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a caregiver in Anaheim, CA, contact the caring staff at No Place Like Home Homecare today at 951-382-5266.
Source:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/thyroid-cancer/about.html
http://www.thyca.org/how-to-help/awareness/september/
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/emotional-side-effects/distress/what-is-distress.html
About Kristi Duran
Kristi Duran is the owner of No Place Like Home Homecare. Kristi started NPLH because of her absolute love for seniors. She was raised by her grandparents from the day she was born. Kristi has a special connection to seniors and understands their wishes and needs to stay independent.
Kristi has worked in the medical field for years and has seen first-hand how aging seniors want nothing more than to age in the comfort of their own home with dignity and grace. At NPLH, she and her caregivers insure that this happens.
NPLH is not a large franchise. It is a personal family owned homecare service. This insures a one on one personalized touch. Kristi is available 24 hours a day to her clients and their families.