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Guideline 6: Supporting carers' emotional & informational needs

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Title

Specific Strategies

Attempt to meet the emotional needs of family carers, including referring family carers to relevant support services where required

  • Use communication skills such as asking opening ended questions and reflective listening and demonstrate empathy to help address carer emotional needs.

  • If family carer distress is detected, offer emotional support such as listening to the family carer and validating their feelings. 33
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“It seems like it’s been really hard for you since your husband’s diagnosis. Cancer has a big impact on the whole family”

 

  • Offer to refer distressed family carers to appropriate support services, such as a psychologist, counsellor, or social worker. 24,26
  • Suggesting that the family carer see their GP for support and, if needed, a referral to a psychologist, is a sensible approach for many clinicians.
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 “It might help to talk to someone more about how you are feeling and get some strategies to help you through this difficult time. We need to make sure we are looking after you too. A good place to start is your local GP, who can refer you to a psychologist in your local area. Is this something you might consider?”

 

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Click + to read more about carer burnout and how you can help family carers who may be experiencing this.

Dealing with family carer burnout

Caring for a loved one with cancer is a challenging experience, that can negatively affect the carers economic, physical, psychological and social well-being. 42,43

Carer burnout often occurs when the family carers prioritise meeting the needs of the patient above their own, leading to emotional distress and fatigue when their own needs are not met.

Carers experiencing fatigue and/or distress are less likely to provide quality care for their loved one and are more likely to experience physical illnesses themselves. 45 Thus, it is important that carer burnout is managed for the wellbeing of both the family carer and the patient.

Meeting the information and emotional needs of caregivers, as described in this unit, may be helpful in preventing carer burnout.

Other tips for avoiding carer burnout include:

  • Including carers in any discussions about home care tasks; not assuming they are willing and able to carry out any task
  • Encouraging carers to share the caregiving tasks with other family members and friends
  • Reminding carers to take care of their own physical health through exercise, diet and adequate sleep
  • Reassuring carers that it is okay for them to take some time to themselves, to relax and do things they enjoy
  • Helping carers to learn problem-focused coping strategies, which are linked to lower levels of burnout. 46
  • Referring family carers to an appropriate support group online or in their area, for valuable informational and social support. The Cancer Council website in your State or Territory is a good place to start.
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OVERALL COMPLETION

Guideline 6

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