Tips for Caregivers
If you are helping your family member or friend through their cancer treatment, you are a caregiver. Caregivers may assist with daily activities such making meals, managing medications or providing rides to appointments. It might also mean taking on some responsibility for coordinating appointments and finding resources to help manage practical issues. Caregiving can also mean being a source of emotional support and being there for the good days and bad days.
On being a caregiver
Caregiving comes with its own share of ups and downs. Caregivers often feel un-prepared for this new role. This page provides some ideas about how you can learn more about managing caregiving responsibilities. Even though caregiving may feel new to you now, many caregivers say that they learn more as they go through their loved one's cancer experience.
Taking good care of you as well
Many caregivers put their own needs and feelings aside to focus on the person with cancer. Putting your own needs aside can be difficult to maintain over a long period of time, and can also have adverse implications to your own health and wellbeing. The stress of caregiving can result in both physical and psychological effects. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of others. It’s important for everyone that you take care of yourself.
Web resources and support groups for caregivers
- Caregiver Education and Resource Portal: Information on a range of topics that caregivers often ask for more information about
- Information on types of caregiver involvement
- Wellspring: Offers programs for family members and caregivers.
- Gilda’s Club of Greater Toronto: Provides a range of programs, including those addressing concerns of family and friends of persons affected by cancer.
- Cancer Chat Cancer (Online Caregiving Support Group): Online support group for caregivers who are caring for family members and/or friends with any cancer diagnosis and stages. The support group includes skill building topics.
- Wellspring’s Money Matters program offers assistance with financial applications for both patients and their caregivers.
- Compassionate Care Benefit (Employment Insurance)
Related Topics
Community Resources
Resources and programs designed to provide information and support to those living with cancer
Helping you Cope
Your health care team is here to help you adjust after diagnosis. We have gathered helpful resources that are available too
Managing Symptoms
Information about common symptoms, and side effects and how to manage them
