I just read a sad but uplifting article about a hospice nurse who had lost her son in the war. Although she had a policy of not sharing her personal life with her patients, she needed to talk and shared her grief with one of her patients in hospice. The patient admitted that she also had lost two sons many years ago.
eCareDiary.com to Host Regular Online Support Group
Posted on May 8th, 2012, by Laura Pinchot
eCareDiary, an online resource for family caregivers, will host a monthly family caregiver online support group called “Caregivers Speak!” starting, Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 2:00 pm EST. BlogTalkRadio will broadcast the live 30-minute event hosted by Margery Pabst on the Caregivers Speak! channel. Participants remain anonymous and are from a wide range of backgrounds and situations, including family caregivers of people with cancer.
Patient and Caregiver Stress: Listen
Posted on May 7th, 2012, by Ruth C. Gholz
Have you ever been in a situation that made you feel like you were meant to be there? Last week, I attended a panel discussion titled “Understanding Patient and Caregiver Stress” and was jolted out of my comfort zone. This panel deserves accolades for telling their stories, speaking their truths, and rattling the nerves of seasoned nurses.
When Should I Call 9-1-1?
Posted on April 25th, 2012, by Laura Pinchot
When a person is seriously ill, it can be difficult to decide what is truly an emergency. As promised from my last post, here is a list that will provide you some guidelines. Your loved one’s doctor, nurse, or occupational therapist can provide you guidence regarding emergency situations that can occur related to your loved one’s specific diagnosis.
Build Your Caregiver Emergency Toolbox
Posted on April 24th, 2012, by Laura Pinchot
I know that the thought of a loved one in peril can be terrifying, but you can empower yourself with tools to help your loved one and provide medical response teams the information they need to give your loved one the best care.
Camp Kesem
Posted on April 20th, 2012, by Lynn Lutwin
Camp Kesem is a national organization dedicated to providing a supportive, fun, and meaningful summer camp experience for children between the ages of 6–13 and 14–16 whose parents currently have or have had cancer. The programs are offered free of charge to the children.
Survivorship Inspires Entrepreneurial Spirit
Posted on April 18th, 2012, by Laura Pinchot
It seems that many people who have been touched by cancer—as a survivor or a caregiver—often rise from the experience with an entrepreneurial spirit. I wonder if these folks see a need that isn’t fulfilled during their cancer journey that they can do to help others.
Do Only What Your Loved One Can’t
Posted on April 17th, 2012, by Ruth C. Gholz
As a young nurse, it was difficult for me to sit back and watch patients get into a chair or dress themselves. I wanted to make it easier for them, yet I knew they needed to be active and involved. Control and independence are major personality characteristics and to have them taken away can provoke a sense of humiliation or shame.
We All Need Other People in Our Lives
Posted on April 13th, 2012, by Lynn Lutwin
I have often seen how important it is to have people in your life to help support you through your journey with cancer. Without that assistance, whether it’s from friends or family, it would be so much more difficult to understand diagnoses and treatments, make decisions, get to the hospital and elsewhere for treatment, do chores, and a host of other necessary activities of daily life.
