Caregivers:  Tips on Meeting the Challenges

Nicolas S. Delfin, PharmD Candidate 2009

Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University

Prepared during Consumer Health Information Corporation Clerkship

McLean, VA

It’s 8 pm.  Natalie has just gotten off work 2 hours ago.  She barely has enough time to eat dinner.  Then she is on her way to the hospital to stay overnight with her husband.  She and Archie have been married for more than 25 years.  He is recovering from a stroke.  The next morning her son   picks her up and drives her home.  Natalie eats some breakfast and heads off to work.  The cycle begins again. 

Although this is an extreme case, the life of a caregiver shares a lot of challenges Natalie goes through daily.  Like Natalie, caregivers have busier days than most of us.  Many caregivers have full time jobs as well as the job of caring for their loved ones.  Understanding what caregivers go through will help us have a brief introduction into their lives.  Learning more about them will give us knowledge to use in case we become caregivers in the future.

Challenges and Rewards of Caregiving

Caregivers have to learn to manage their time.  Often they have to juggle full time jobs with the time they spend and care for their loved ones.  Caregivers also have to manage the financial burden that comes with caregiving.  For example, the average yearly cost of informal care for patients with mild dementia is $3,630, $7,420 for moderate dementia, and $17,700 for severe dementia. Adding the fact that most caregivers are not paid for their time makes caregiving financially difficult.

Although a caregiver’s life is challenging, there are many rewards. .  Caregivers report that their experiences have had a positive influence on their lives. Caregivers develop better relationships with the loved ones they are caring for.  Almost half of the caregivers reported that they have become more religious or spiritual because of caregiving.  The rewards of caregiving often make up for its hardships.

Viewpoint of Caregivers and Patients May Not Be the Same

Caregivers and patients don’t always see eye to eye.

            ·Caregivers often report higher levels of pain than what the patient actually feels. 

         ·Patients seem to be more concerned than the caregiver about becoming  

              too dependent and a burden. 

Both caregivers and patients seem more concerned about how the other is doing.  The danger is that misunderstandings can lead to poor patient health.

Communication and Caregiving Go Hand in Hand

Perhaps the most important quality of a good caregiver is having good communication with the patient and their healthcare providers.  This is even more important  when the caregiver is an immediate family member.  There are going to be times when the patient will not tell the truth about  their condition because they feel guilty they are over burdening their caregiver. 

Some tips for good communication are:

          ·Encourage the patient to be more honest about how they really feel.  This is the only way

               that you can understand their concerns and feelings.  For example, encourage the patient to   

               describe how much pain they are feeling by asking them to rate it on a scale of one to ten.     

            ·At the same time, the caregivers should also express how they feel toward

               the patient.  Try not to show anger because this can shut down all the good

               communication you already have with the patient. Be honest but in a kind

               way.  Show the patient that you care for them.

            ·Communicate with the patient’s healthcare providers

                    ·Be prepared for the medical visit.  Write down the questions you want to ask ahead  

                            of time.  Take a list of any important information you feel the doctor needs to know. 

                            This includes any problems taking the medication, side effects, and current health of

                            the patient.

                           ·Try to go with the patient for their checkups with their healthcare

                            providers.

                           ·Take notes when the healthcare provider gives instructions and

                            information.  Having notes is a good way to remember what the

                            physician said during the visit.

                           ·Repeat the information back to the healthcare provider.  Repeating

                            information is a safe way of making sure you understand what the

                            physician said.

Tapping into the Pharmacy Resource

One valuable source of health information that can be used more by patients and caregivers are pharmacists.  Once the check out clerk in the pharmacy asks you “Do you have any questions for the pharmacist?”, do not hesitate to ask for the pharmacist. 

What to Tell the Pharmacist

For many, the pharmacist will be the last healthcare provider patients and caregivers will talk to before heading home.  Important things to tell the pharmacist include:

             ·Patient allergies

             ·All medications the patient is taking.  This includes more than prescription drugs.  It also

               includes over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements. 

What to Ask the Pharmacist

If the doctor did not fully answer all questions, the pharmacist can be a good source of health information.  Here are some key questions to ask the pharmacist.

         ·Ask the pharmacist how the patient should be taking the medication. 

            ·Ask what time is a good time to take them and if they should take it with   

             food or without.

            ·Ask the pharmacist about side effects and how side effects can be handled. 

As a caregiver you have every right to know about the condition and medication the patient is taking.  You should ask the pharmacist any questions or concerns you may have.  Even though pharmacists are busy, answering questions is their job.  Most pharmacists find helping patients is the most rewarding part of their job. 

How Patients Give Back to Their Caregivers

There will be days that are exhausting.  The giving in “caregiving” can make caregiving seem like a one way process.  There will be days when it seems like all the caregiver is doing is to “Give. Give. Give.”  One might ask, “Where is the take?  What am I getting out of it?”  Actually, by being a caregiver, many receive much more. 

Caregiving builds stronger relationships, a better outlook on life, and even an increase in spirituality.  The difficulties in caregiving can be improved by communication.  Caregiving can be a reward rather than a burden.  And like Natalie caring for her husband, it can be a form of closure rather than a sudden goodbye.

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