Cancer is a life-threatening ailment that affects not only the individual but also the entire family. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is responsible for about 10 million deaths worldwide each year. In the United States alone, around 1.9 million new cancer cases are diagnosed annually, which is a deeply concerning number.
Living with cancer is never an easy journey. Family members caring for a cancer patient often juggle work alongside responsibilities like doctors’ appointments, medications, and transportation.
Over time, caring for a cancer patient can become an overwhelming burden. However, families can find relief by appointing experts to look after their loved ones. In home care for cancer patients can ease much of the load, as the patient receives compassionate and tailored care. All their needs are met at home, allowing the family to focus on meaningful moments like spending quality time together. Let’s explore in detail why reaching out for cancer home care services is so important.
Why Choose In Home Care for Cancer Patients?
Cancer patients may require special care as they go through so many procedures, from chemotherapy to surgery. So, home care plays an important role in receiving constant assistance from expert caregivers. Let’s look at some of the top reasons to choose professional care for cancer patients at home:
Comfort at Home
Procedures like chemotherapy or radiation can be very hard on the body. These often cause effects like fatigue, nausea, and more, making life more difficult. The PDQ Cancer Information Summaries state that nearly 80% of patients undergoing chemotherapy experience fatigue. Also, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) reports that nausea from chemotherapy can be experienced by almost 70%-80% of patients.
A professional home care service can provide hands-on assistance and create a comforting environment for the patient. With such an environment and the ideal support, the symptoms can be managed much more effectively. You can ensure an improved quality of life for your loved one.
Familiar Surroundings
Being cared for among familiar belongings and cherished memories can positively impact mental health. It provides stability during the hardest periods of life. When the loved one stays in familiar surroundings, they can feel less stressed and anxious. They can maintain a good connection to their routines and personal identity. The healing process can go smoothly, and they can experience a massive improvement in their overall health.
Example: Mr. Michael, who was battling lung cancer, often felt disoriented after countless hospital stays. To help him feel more comfortable, his son Leo arranged in-home cancer care services through Elite Caregivers United. With compassionate care at home, surrounded by his family photographs, favorite books, and personal belongings, Mr. Michael gradually felt more at ease. After a few weeks, he noticed significant improvements in his appetite, mood, and sleep.
Personalized Care
Cancer home care is often adjusted to the patient’s specific needs. Some may need help with activities of daily living, while others may require dedicated support for medication management or meal preparation. The expert caregiving team can personalize its care plan to accommodate the ever-changing needs of the patient.
Lower Infection Risk
Stats have shown that hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect approx. 2 million patients every year in the U.S., contributing to about 99,000 deaths.
Unlike hospitals and assisted living facilities, home care poses a lower risk of infection for cancer patients. Of course, someone undergoing cancer treatment has weak immunity, and that’s why caring within home settings is often a safer option.
Types of Cancer Home Care Services
Home care offers a vast range of assistance to cancer patients who are on the road to recovery. A typical in home care for cancer patients may include these services:
Personal Care
As you hire professional caregivers for your loved one, you can expect hands-on assistance with daily life activities. The professionals can assist them with bathing, dressing, walking, grooming, and toileting. Beyond personal care, they can even do some light housekeeping tasks, such as removing trash, doing laundry, cleaning rooms, making beds, and washing dishes.
Emotional Help
It may be emotionally overwhelming to cope with life after a cancer diagnosis. The life of the person and their families is turned upside down. A cancer home care team can offer impeccable support during the toughest periods. The pro caregivers sit closely to the patient, listen to them, and engage in healthy conversations.
Medicine Management
In a cancer treatment, a skipped or wrong dosage can lead to serious consequences. So, it is wise to bring in in-home caregivers who can assist with medication management. They can set reminders for medications at specific times to ensure proper dosage and provide excellent support. Also, they can help with administering prescription drugs and monitoring adverse effects and overall health.
Nutritional Support
No doubt, nutrition has a vital role in the recovery phase of cancer. An in-home care provider can help the cancer patient in preparing nutritious meals according to the suggested diet plan. The caregivers also encourage them to adopt healthy eating habits and manage side effects affecting their appetite and digestion.
Let’s take the example of Mr. Patrick Stones, who struggled with nausea and loss of appetite after chemotherapy. Noticing his difficulties, his son Victor arranged for an in-home care team from Elite Caregivers United to help prepare meals according to the recommended diet. The team ensured that all foods were gentle on his stomach. With their support, managing symptoms became much easier, and his recovery progressed smoothly.
Companionship
An often-overlooked concern in a cancer patient’s recovery is loneliness. Professional caregivers can become their true friends by being physically and emotionally present and supporting them when family members are not around. They can accompany them to walks or doctor appointments. Such companionship can significantly reduce feelings of isolation and boost mental wellness.
What to Expect From a Cancer Recovery Home Care Plan?
A cancer recovery home care plan is a detailed document, covering everything from the patient’s health history to a roadmap for recovery and ongoing health needs. Key components of a cancer recovery home care plan include:
Follow-up Appointments
Routine follow-up appointments after the cancer treatment are very important. In these appointments, there are lab tests, physical exams, and consultations with oncologists or specialists. Maintaining a regular schedule and having open communication with your healthcare providers are all essential during the ongoing care post-treatment.
Medical History Summary
A medical history summary generally outlines the details of the cancer journey. A clear description of the particular type of cancer diagnosed is provided. It even includes details like date of diagnosis, the stage, location of the disease, and tests like scans, biopsies, and lab results.
Long-Term & Late Effects
The care plan also lays out critical information about the potential side effects of treatments. It even guides on what type of signs and symptoms to be wary of; for instance, fatigue, nausea, etc. Cognitive effects may also sneak up post-treatment. Your detailed care plan can help you better prepare and learn the common effects, like mood changes, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Signs of Recurrence
Being proactive about health and keeping an eye out for any bodily changes is very important. Cancer often brings the risk of recurrence. There is a chance of developing a new type of cancer in many cases. A comprehensive care plan emphasizes regular monitoring for serious signs of recurrence. These could be constant fatigue, worsening pain, fever, unusual weight gain or loss, skin changes, night sweats, and several other signs.
Healthy Lifestyle Tips
As a part of the care plan, healthy lifestyle recommendations support the healing process and minimize the risk of disease recurrence. A diet full of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, along with physical activities like walking, yoga, or swimming, and practices like meditation, is included in the plan.
Get Trusted Cancer Home Care With Elite Caregivers United
Elite Caregivers United is the right place to find reliable cancer recovery care solutions. Appoint our expert caregivers to provide the utmost support to your loved one on their healing journey. We have highly dedicated caregivers who always go a step further to help your loved one with personal care, mobility support, meal preparation, and medication reminders.
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Expect the ideal comfort and safety for your recovering loved one right from the comfort of home. We understand the challenges that come with post-cancer treatment- so we create tailored care plans that not only focus on regaining strength, but also independence while adding quality to life.
Our in-home cancer care services include:
- Personal Care
- Medication Management
- Companionship
- Meal Preparation
Let Elite Caregivers United support your loved one to recover comfortably and confidently. The best cancer home care Orlando is just a phone call away!