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Caregiving
> Delegating Responsibilities
Good caregiving usually requires a team of people, each with different
skills and perspectives. The health care team, composed of doctors,
nurses, dietitians, pain management specialists and social workers
bring professional expertise to the patient, but family members
and friends are also important contributors to the team. As a caregiver,
it is important to work cooperatively with other members of the
team, but not to take on the entire role themselves. Other family
members can also be involved, and a distribution of tasks can be
made based on what each person does best.
Talent or Interest |
How You Can Help |
| Research |
Make a list of topics to be researched either
by phone or on the internet. Sometimes mesothelioma patients
are given minimal information about their diagnosis
or the availability of mesothelioma
treatment methods. Since elderly patients may not have access
to a computer, they will welcome the additional information. |
| Listening |
Allow the mesothelioma patient to express their
concerns and fears. Psychologists feel that the most effective
caregiving is based on non-judgmental communication. Listening
is an extremely powerful tool in helping patients come to terms
with and move forward from a mesothelioma diagnosis. |
| Activities |
Offer to help the mesothelioma patient by running
errands or doing other things that are more difficult now that
they are ill or are undergoing treatment. Keep in mind, however,
that it is equally important to encourage the patient to keep
active to whatever extent they are able. |
| Organization |
Help the patient get their affairs in order.
This can mean anything from helping with bill paying, correspondence
or taxes, to seeing that the patient has advance
directives and wills in place. |
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