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Cancer Care Resource FAQs
1. Where do I go when I first learn that I have cancer?
2. How do I support my loved one/friend with cancer?
3. How do I explain my cancer illness to my child?
4. Will Cancer Care Resources provide me money to help with the costs of cancer treatment?
5. How do I make a patient referral to Cancer Care Resources?
6. I just finished treatment, and NOW it is all hitting me emotionally. Is that normal?
7. Will I look weak if I seek out counseling?
8. Do I really need counseling? Isn't counseling only for those with severe emotional issues?
9. How should I tell my children I have cancer?
10. My child is under 2 years of age. How should I talk to him/her about my cancer?
11. My child is 2-5 years old. How do I explain my cancer to him/her?
12. My child is between the ages of 6 and 11. How do I talk with him/her about cancer?
13. My child is a teenager (12 or older). How should I discuss my cancer with my child.
14. Do you have any overall suggestions for talking with my child about cancer?
15. Are there things that I should avoid or not do when talking with my child?
16. What signs or symptoms in my children do I need to worry about?
17. What books are available to help me talk with my children?
18. What if I am not going to recover?
19. What should I say if I am not going to recover?
20. Does my child understand death and how might he/she react to the conversation?
21. What is hospice and palliative care?
22. When should hospice be considered and should I bring up the converstation?
23. What insurance companies do you accept and what will the out-of-pocket costs be for my patient?
24. Is Cancer Care Resources affiliated with any particular hospital or healthcare system?
25. Does Cancer Care Resources provide financial support to patients in need by providing financial aid?
26. If you do not provide direct financial assitance, then how will you help my patient?
27. Do you offer any services to professionals in the oncology field?
28. Do you ever speak at staff meetings regarding grief/coping with working in the field of oncology?
29. Should I exercise during treatment?
30. Why should my patient exercise during treatment?
31. How do I get started with exercise?
32. How do you assist my employee with cancer?
33. What services can you provide me as an employer of a cancer patient.
34. Will CCR staff members come to my work and give a presentation?
35. How can your organization support staff members with a cancer diagnosis?
36. How can our business support your work and the services you provide?
37. How can my school cope with the impact of a cancer diagnosis of a staff member or student?
38. I have questions about FMLA, OFLA, workplace accomodations, and leave requests. Can you help me?
39. What services does Cancer Care Resources provide to caregivers?
40. I am looking for assistance in finding a caregiver for my loved one, but I do not know where to start. Do you have any suggestions?
41. What types of caregiving options are available to me?
42. Are caregiver services and/or respite covered by insurance?
43. I feel very overwhelmed caring for my loved one with cancer. What can I do? Is this normal?
44. My employer is giving me a hard time about taking so much time off of work. What can I do?
1. Where do I go when I first learn that I have cancer?
Cancer Care Resources (CCR), of course! CCR will listen to and assess your needs to determine what services will most benefit you.
2. How do I support my loved one/friend with cancer?
Most individuals who are newly diagnosed with cancer are not able to state what they need most. Often, people need assistance with the basics - food (preparing meals), transportation (of children or the patient), babysitting, household chores, etc. People often will not ask for help, but do appreciate assistance. Instead of asking what you can do to help, take it upon yourself to offer assistance. But also be there to listen to the patient and provide them support during this difficult time.
3. How do I explain my cancer illness to my child?
It is very difficult to explain to a child of any age about cancer. There are some specific strategies depending on the developmental stage of your child. It is best to talk with the hospital Child Life Therapist for advice, or contact Cyndi Levine at our office for an appointment or more information/tips.
4. Will Cancer Care Resources provide me money to help with the costs of cancer treatment?
No. Cancer Care Resources will provide support and possible referrals to other community agencies, depending on your assessment and needs.
5. How do I make a patient referral to Cancer Care Resources?
Patients can refer themselves to CCR, but we do appreciate having contact with the physician in order to coordinate treatment. Please feel free to give us a call 503-528-5236 or fax us information 503-546-8989. Thank you.
6. I just finished treatment, and NOW it is all hitting me emotionally. Is that normal?
Yes, it is very normal. For many patients the emotional recovery begins after treatment ends and may take 6 months to a year or more to complete. It is important to know that this is considered normal after the cancer experience and that most patients do successfully recover and move forward with their lives.
7. Will I look weak if I seek out counseling?
Most everyone will agree that seeking counseling is a sign of strength and courage. Talking about your feelings and exploring this painful experience will make you stronger. Counseling can make you better able to cope with other life issues.
8. Do I really need counseling? Isn't counseling only for those with severe emotional issues?
Cancer's impact is felt by everyone in your life and family. Many people experience emotions that they have never felt before as a result of their diagnosis. People can handle many of the issues cancer brings out on their own, but some of the issues and experiences are new and it is often helpful to speak with a professional about what is happening. Learning from an oncology professional can help you sort out what you are feeling and provide you knowledge and hope. A professional can also help you and your family feel more in control.
9. How should I tell my children I have cancer?
Talking to your children is one of the most difficult things to do. Of course, you will want to protect them from pain, but children need to know the truth. All research shows that keeping information from them about your cancer does more harm than good, can damage their trust in you, and fuels their imaginations with fears that may be worse than the current situation. Children have an amazing capacity to cope when they have clear and honest information about your cancer. What and how you tell your children depends upon their age and level of development. Telling your children about your cancer is best done with a gentle, open, and honest approach. Informing and discussing your cancer with your child is not a one-time event. You do not need to tell your children everything at once. Throughout treatment and follow-up care, continue talking with your children.
The information contained in this section has been adapted from several resources: Peer-reviewed professional journal articles, American Cancer Society, Cancer Back-up; People Living with Cancer, Cancer Care, Kids Konnected, Amazon Books, Breast Csncer Resource Quide of Conneticut, Kids Health, American Assoication of Marriage and Family Therapists.
10. My child is under 2 years of age. How should I talk to him/her about my cancer?
Some suggestions for children of different ages:
• Under Two years of age: Children this young are unable to understand what cancer is as an illness. This age is most concerned with what is happening with them. Separation and strangers are a major area of anxiety. Children of this age need to be assured that they will be well taken care of and by whom.
The information contained in this section has been adapted from several resources: Peer-reviewed professional journal articles, American Cancer Society, Cancer Back-up; People Living with Cancer, Cancer Care, Kids Konnected, Amazon Books, Breast Csncer Resource Quide of Conneticut, Kids Health, American Assoication of Marriage and Family Therapists.
11. My child is 2-5 years old. How do I explain my cancer to him/her?
• Two to five years of age: Children are still in need of reassurance about what is happening with them. Giving them a transitional special toy or blanket that your child can carry with her to the hospital, or friends’ homes, or get comfortable with at night is helpful and can be used as a reminder that you are thinking of them when you are gone or too tired. At this age children also want simple explanations about what is cancer and how it is affecting you. Relating cancer and treatment to familiar ideas can be helpful. For instance, one might explain cancer treatment as a contest between the “helpful cells” and “the not helpful cells.” There are several story books that both you and your child might find supportive and effective.
The information contained in this section has been adapted from several resources: Peer-reviewed professional journal articles, American Cancer Society, Cancer Back-up; People Living with Cancer, Cancer Care, Kids Konnected, Amazon Books, Breast Csncer Resource Quide of Conneticut, Kids Health, American Assoication of Marriage and Family Therapists.
12. My child is between the ages of 6 and 11. How do I talk with him/her about cancer?
• Six to eleven years of age: Children at this stage can understand more detailed explanations, though it is helpful to include familiar scenarios. Many children of this age have a basic knowledge of body parts and their functions, and can understand simple explanations about the cancer and its effects on the body. Cancer treatment could be explained as “pearl like drops or light rays that are helping your body to build more normal cells and eliminate those cells that have gone out of control and formed a tumor.” They will want to know in what part of your body is the cancer. They will want to know about how treatment works and what side effects they might see, such as hair loss, a parent’s nausea, or fatigue. Let the children's teachers and school nurse/counselor know about your condition, as their suggestions and understanding will help if there are any problems. You might ask your child if there are other people that they want you to inform them of your cancer, such as their brownie or scout leader, coach, or their friends' parents. As best as possible, maintain your child’s normal routine. Let them know when there will be changes to activities, family time, or temporary caretakers.
The information contained in this section has been adapted from several resources: Peer-reviewed professional journal articles, American Cancer Society, Cancer Back-up; People Living with Cancer, Cancer Care, Kids Konnected, Amazon Books, Breast Csncer Resource Quide of Conneticut, Kids Health, American Assoication of Marriage and Family Therapists.
13. My child is a teenager (12 or older). How should I discuss my cancer with my child.
• Twelve years and older: Children of this age are able to understand more complex relationships between events Though teenagers may want either more detailed information or to not talk about your cancer and their feelings, preferring to keep things inside or to talk with their friends rather than with you, check in with them regularly. If they are helping out, acknowledge their extra efforts and make sure that they have time to spend with their friends. Being a teenager is a time of emotional ups and downs when they can feel confused and unsure about themselves. This can make the way they deal with a parent’s cancer very different from that of a younger child. Their reactions are likely to be more intense than an adult's. It is very important that they have the time to grieve about the illness and be included in what is happening.
The information contained in this section has been adapted from several resources: Peer-reviewed professional journal articles, American Cancer Society, Cancer Back-up; People Living with Cancer, Cancer Care, Kids Konnected, Amazon Books, Breast Csncer Resource Quide of Conneticut, Kids Health, American Assoication of Marriage and Family Therapists.
14. Do you have any overall suggestions for talking with my child about cancer?
Some overall suggestions for talking with your children include:
• Explaining that cancer is not contagious and that there is nothing they have done, thought or said to cause you to have cancer. Clear up any misconceptions.
• Tell your child what has happened and what you expect to happen next. Be prepared to share both the good and bad news. Your child might ask if you are going to die. Without promising your child anything, inform her that not everyone dies when they get cancer and that right now, you are getting treatment and hoping for the best outcome.
• Reassure your child that she will still be well cared for and loved and by whom. Let them know of other adults that they can lean on for support and/or talk with.
• As you offer your children information, it is okay to talk about your feelings. You do not need to go into great detail about the medical terminology or financial concerns, but do let them know how you feel and what changes to their routines they can expect.
• Most importantly, listen to your children. Encourage your child to tell you what they have noticed. Let them ask questions. Listen for what they are really asking and answer them as simply and completely as you can.
15. Are there things that I should avoid or not do when talking with my child?
Some don’ts:
• Avoid using jargon such as the “Big C,” “a boo boo,” ‘an owie,” “a nasty seed,” or “something I ate” as these can give children the wrong ideas and be very frightening. Just say “cancer.”
• Don’t lie and don’t make promises you may not be able to keep. Instead of saying, “I promise to take you…” try saying, “I will try to…” Don’t promise that you will not die, that you will be there forever, as this cannot be true as everyone at sometime leaves (even if temporarily), and every plant, animal and human dies at some time.
• Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know” or “That’s a good question. I’ll need to think more on that and get back to you.”
• Give children “news bulletins” about the ‘need to know information- both good and bad news,’ and don’t push children into talking if they don’t want to. Leave the door open for future times to communicate.
• Establish a support system of extended family, friends, community members and/or contact a professional for additional help. Don’t let your child worry alone.
• Don't expect to be perfect. Talking to your kids about cancer can be challenging. If the conversation did not go as planned, learn for the next time and plan what to do differently. Anticipate what might happen. Be kind to yourself, you are human and some days will be good parent days and others not so good just like before you had a cancer diagnosis.
16. What signs or symptoms in my children do I need to worry about?
It is normal for children to be upset, or distressed when a parent has cancer. Your child may:
• Have nightmares or difficulty sleeping
• Be clingy, and not want to leave you
• Eat more or less than usual
• Younger children may have toileting accidents, bedwetting, and thumb sucking
• Act out at school or at home
• Complain of physical symptoms such as stomachaches or headaches
• Express feeling worried, sad or angry
• Withdraw from friends or not want to do their normal activities
After a few weeks, if your children are continuing to have problems, they might be telling you they need some help coping. To sort out if the concerns are a temporary adjustment or something that needs more attention, you may want to contact a professional counselor.
The information contained in this section has been adapted from several resources: Peer-reviewed professional journal articles, American Cancer Society, Cancer Back-up; People Living with Cancer, Cancer Care, Kids Konnected, Amazon Books, Breast Csncer Resource Quide of Conneticut, Kids Health, American Assoication of Marriage and Family Therapists.
17. What books are available to help me talk with my children?
We provide a comprehensive list of books for parents and children under our "List of Books" link. Please visit "Tools for Helping Children" and click the book link at the bottom of the page. Thank you.
18. What if I am not going to recover?
A time may come when the reality is that you will not recover. It is very difficult to face the knowledge that you are going to die and to talk openly about death and dying to your family. It will also be difficult for you family and especially children. Yet, talking about your situation together and allowing your children to be a part of that process will likely help them prepare for the future and will most likely help them with their recovery from grief.
Children are often more knowledgeable than we think and need to be given permission to talk about what is happening. Speaking in a language they will understand, using open, honest and direct communication while avoiding jargon or complex clinical terminology, helps children of all ages navigate this difficult reality. Even though it is difficult, using precise words, such as “when I die…” is far less confusing for children. A child can become very frightened when euphemisms are used to explain death. For example, if you were to say that death is “just going to sleep,” your child might not want to go to sleep after you die, terrified that they too might die in their sleep at night.
Talking to your children may occur over many short conversations, as they may need information repeated many times, and in small doses in order to make sense of such challenging and profound loss.
The information contained in this section has been adapted from several resources: Peer-reviewed professional journal articles, American Cancer Society, Cancer Back-up; People Living with Cancer, Cancer Care, Kids Konnected, Amazon Books, Breast Csncer Resource Quide of Conneticut, Kids Health, American Assoication of Marriage and Family Therapists.
19. What should I say if I am not going to recover?
Some suggestions for talking with your children:
• Explain death using real words rather than euphemisms.
• Share family traditions, religious or spiritual beliefs around death.
• Provide an abundance of verbal and physical affection to assure children that they will continue to be cared for and loved.
• Encourage your child to talk about their emotions and suggest ways for them to express their thoughts and feelings, and to ask questions. Books, journaling, drawing, role-play, and/or music, are some ways that can enhance both a child’s understanding and with their expression of emotions and thoughts.
• Explain that normal grief involves a wide range of emotions that the pain of grief will come and go over time, with some of those times being more intense than other times, and that their reactions may differ from those of an adult.
• Let children know that they need not feel guilty or feel that they are betraying the loved one who has died if they are having fun or feel happy. Protect family time and support your children in spending time with their friends and involvement in activities.
After the death of a loved one:
• Let children know that they are not to blame for the death and that the person who has died will not return.
• Children from the age of three years, understand the concept of saying “goodbye.” It is beneficial for the child to have a choice in how they want to say goodbye to a loved one.
• Pre-school and older children can be given the choice of attending a memorial service, but not forced to attend.
• Some children will want to attend the service but not the burial.
• Older children may want to help plan the memorial service.
• Let your child know what will happen at the service and if possible, ask if they would like to visit the place in which the service is to be held or the cemetery beforehand.
• Encourage a trusted adult to help care for a young child at the service or accompany her if she wants to leave early.
• Encourage children to speak with trusted others outside the family to enlarge their support network and give them additional opportunities to cope with their loss
20. Does my child understand death and how might he/she react to the conversation?
Children at different ages have different understandings of death and may experience different temporary reactions at different developmental stages:
• Birth to two years: Have no understanding of death. They will be aware of separation and will grieve the absence of a parent. At this age, a child may continue to ask for the missing parent and wait for her to return. This is the age when a child is most affected by the surviving parent’s sadness.
• Three to six years of age: Children of this age are curious about death and believe death to be temporary or reversible. This is an age of “magical thinking” and their understanding is a mixture of reality and fantasy and belief in “magical powers.” Preschool age children are most concerned with what is happening to them and often see themselves as the cause of events around them. It is common for this age group to feel guilty and believe that what they thought, said, or did made the loved one die. They might also believe that they can make the deceased person come back to life if they are “good enough.” They may be anxious about who will take care of them, about affected by the sadness around them. Children this age may have difficulty verbalizing and often react to the loss through irritable behaviors, aggression, physical symptoms, sleep difficulties, or regression such as thumb sucking, or bed-wetting.
• Six to twelve years of age: School age children can understand the finality of death. Up until the age of ten years old, death is seen as something that happens only to other people. By age ten, children can understand that death is universal, inevitable, and could happen to them and they may still worry that they are to blame. Many children this age want details about death and what specifically happens to the body after one dies. A range of emotions may be experienced: anger, shame, guilt, anxiety, sadness, fear of being abandoned, and worry about their own death. In this experience, children may have difficulty expressing their feelings and instead, react with a broad range of behaviors: school difficulties, physical symptoms, withdrawal, regression, and/or clinginess.
• Teenagers: Thirteen to eighteen year olds have the same understanding of death as an adult though lack the experience or coping tools of an adult. Teenage years are a time of intense emotions. In experiencing a wide range of emotions, a teenager may be uncomfortable expressing them and feel overwhelmed by the intensity. Having difficulty with expressing their feelings could lead to some teenagers developing behaviors such as directing anger at family members, irresponsibility with completing school work, or reckless with substances, withdrawal or regression. Struggling with independence from parents can cause some teenagers to hinder their ability to receive adult family support, creating greater tension. Teenagers cope with this tension by wanting to spend more time with their peers or alone.
21. What is hospice and palliative care?
Hospice and palliative care are the terms used when treatment goals change from curative to comfort care. Hospice supports the individual and the family when life-expectancy is limited and can be provided in the home or other locations where the patient resides. Palliative care focuses on making the patient comfortable (with pain control and symptom management) whether or not prolonging life is the goal.
22. When should hospice be considered and should I bring up the converstation?
Discussing the idea of hospice or palliative care can be uncomfortable for the patient, the family, and the healthcare team because death is a difficult topic and people often feel a sense of "giving up" instead of "changing focus goals". Hospice and palliative care are the treatments provided when there are no longer curative treatments available. The sooner you discuss hospice or palliative care measures with your doctor, the sooner hospice can assist you. it is up to you as the patient or the loved one of a patient to bridge the conversation about hospice with your doctor. The sooner hospice is involved, the better. However, it must be the patient's decision to enter hospice.
23. What insurance companies do you accept and what will the out-of-pocket costs be for my patient?
All service provided by Cancer Care Resources as provided free of charge (and if there is a charge then scholarships are always available). Therefore, CCR does not bill insurance companies for services and all individuals from the community are encouraged to utilize our services. However, donations are gladly accepted and much appreciated.
24. Is Cancer Care Resources affiliated with any particular hospital or healthcare system?
Though CCR was founded by several generous doctors at Northwest Cancer Specialists, we are not affiliated with any particular health system and enjoy working colaboratively with all healthcare professionals and healthcare systems in the best interest of our patients. All individuals are welcome.
25. Does Cancer Care Resources provide financial support to patients in need by providing financial aid?
Cancer Care Resources does not provide direct financial aid to patients. However, our staff can often refer patients to other organizations both nationally and locally that may assist them.
26. If you do not provide direct financial assitance, then how will you help my patient?
Cancer Care Resources provides a variety of services to patients, including counseling, social service assistance, information and referral services, nutritional advice, exercise programs, support groups, and class/seminars. Our staff can refer patients to other community or national organizations that might be able to provide financial assistance.
27. Do you offer any services to professionals in the oncology field?
CCR understands that working in healthcare and oncology can be very stressful and overwhelming. Professionals often experience grief and loss when working with cancer patients. Cancer Care Resources would like to be there to help and support you and your staff. We provide retreats for professionals and also are able to go into your workplace to provide education and support to your staff. Please call us for more information.
28. Do you ever speak at staff meetings regarding grief/coping with working in the field of oncology?
Our oncology trained staff are adept at working with healthcare professionals in the areas of grief/loss and coping. We are happy to schedule a visit to your agency and provide support services and education to your staff. Please call us to schedule and appointment 503-528-5236.
29. Should I exercise during treatment?
In the past, people diagnosed with cancer were often advised by their doctors to rest and avoid physical activity. This may still be true if movement produces severe pain, rapid heart rate, or breathlessness. However, for many people with cancer, regular exercise is extremely beneficial during cancer treatment. Studies have concluded patients who are inactive can lose as much as 35% of their physical ability during their treatment. Other benefits of moderate exercise include: increased strength, stamina, endurance, and bone density; decreased anxiety, stress and fatigue; reduce the intensity and number of side effects from treatment; and improve a patient's overall quality of life.
30. Why should my patient exercise during treatment?
In the past, people diagnosed with cancer were often advised by their doctors to rest and avoid physical activity. This may still be true if movement produces severe pain, rapid heart rate, or breathlessness. However, for many people with cancer, regular exercise is extremely beneficial during cancer treatment. Studies have concluded patients who are inactive can lose as much as 35% of their physical ability during their treatment. Other benefits of moderate exercise include: increased strength, stamina, endurance, and bone density; decreased anxiety, stress and fatigue; reduce the intensity and number of side effects from treatment; and improve a patient's overall quality of life.
31. How do I get started with exercise?
Consult your doctor and let him/her know you are interested in beginning an exercise program. Together you should be able to create an exercise routine that is dependent on your current physical condition, as well as your general health before you were diagnosed. While there are many objectives for being physically active, the exercise program should be based on what is safe, effective, and enjoyable. Types of exercise include: yoga, walking, thai chi, qui gong, swimming, pilates, cycling, etc. The Inpower program may be another option. It is a free 3 month individualized exercise program that meets 2x/week. The program is run by a cancer exercise specialist as well as an oncology nurse and focuses on heling cancer patients stay physically strong during and after treatment while improving their quality of life. For more information, please contact Cancer Care Resources.
32. How do you assist my employee with cancer?
Cancer Care Resources can assist your employee in many ways. We can offer direct services like counseling and social service assistance to the employee with cancer. We can also be a source of support for you as an employer and your employee in determining FMLA and accomodations in the workplace. We can also assist your other employees in coping with a colleague's cancer diagnosis.
33. What services can you provide me as an employer of a cancer patient.
CCR can assist you and your employee when dealing with a cancer diagnosis or even before a diagnosis. Our oncology trained staff can guide you and your employee through FMLA, OFLA, and disability. We can also arrange to have our counselors and oncology nurse visit your workplace to assist staff coping with a colleague's cancer diagnosis or a family member's diagnosis. Please contact us for more information or to arrange for a visit.
34. Will CCR staff members come to my work and give a presentation?
CCR staff members are happy to arrange a time to come to your workplace and give informational presentations or to offer support/resources to a workplace that has been disrupted by a cancer diagnosis. For example, our staff have gone to major corporations and held counseling and resource meetings with individuals via the HR Department. We have also gone into schools to help staff and children cope when a teacher or student has been diagnosed with cancer. Please call to schedule an appointment with the appropriate staff members.
35. How can your organization support staff members with a cancer diagnosis?
Cancer Care Resources will attempt to meet your needs by providing support and resources to the individual diagnosed and the organization as a whole. We will provide informational presentations, arrange for staff to spend a day at your organization providing support to staff members, and will offer tips to management about how to cope when a colleague has a life threatening illness.
36. How can our business support your work and the services you provide?
All services offered by Cancer Care Resources are offered free of charge to the cancer community. We depend on the generosity of donors and grant providers to operate. If you or your organization are interested in helping to support and expand the important work of Cancer Care Resources, please consider making a donation. Contact Judy, Development Director at 503-528-5236 x107 or judy@cancercareresources.org
37. How can my school cope with the impact of a cancer diagnosis of a staff member or student?
CCR is able and willing to come to your school to help staff and students cope with a cancer diagnosis. We have a Child and Family therapist, Cyndi Levine, on staff that can help guide adults in supporting themselves and the students when someone in the school community is impacted by cancer. Please consider talking with Cyndi today.
38. I have questions about FMLA, OFLA, workplace accomodations, and leave requests. Can you help me?
Cancer Care Resources has staff available to answer your questions about FMLA, OFLA and other workplace issues. Our Oregon Resources database also has information/advocacy tips around these issues. If you do not find the answer to your question in Oregon Resources and we cannot answer your question to you satisfaction, we can refer you to members of the community that will be able to answer your questions with certainty.
39. What services does Cancer Care Resources provide to caregivers?
CCR can provide counseling and support services to caregivers caring for a loved one with cancer. We also offer a Family Caregiver educational seminar that covers the basics around caring for someone with cancer (transferring, mobility issues, taking care of self, etc.). Please call for more information. 503-528-5236
40. I am looking for assistance in finding a caregiver for my loved one, but I do not know where to start. Do you have any suggestions?
For assistance in locating a caregiver, please consider contacting your local Aging and Disability Services office (http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/spwpd/offices.shtml) or Legacy Caregiver Services (503-413-7706). These agencies can provide lists of caregivers available in the community. Legacy Caregiver Services had information, booklets, and tips on caregiving and hiring in-home help.
41. What types of caregiving options are available to me?
There are 5 main options for caregiving, but each has their own limitations and guidelines to qualify.
1) Adult Day Care - services provided outside of the home
2) Home Health - various levels of services provided by an agency when their is medical need. Required MD referral
3) Respite Care - someone comes into the home to relieve the primary caregiver.
4) Companionship - some organizations provide someone who can come into the home and provide companionship.
5) Meals-on-Wheels - an individual brings a warm meal to someone in need and can check on the person.
For more information, please see the Oregon Resource Guide under Caregiving/Respite.
42. Are caregiver services and/or respite covered by insurance?
In most circumstances, only home health services are covered by insurance companies and caregiver services and/or respite are paid for out-of-pocket. Some individuals may qualify for respite assistance via federal caregiving legislation. Contact your local Aging and Disability Office for more information and to see if you qualify.
43. I feel very overwhelmed caring for my loved one with cancer. What can I do? Is this normal?
Being a caregiver is a very stressful job. It is very normal to experience a range of emotions as a caregiver, including feeling overwhelmed, angry, resentful, guilty, sad, and sometimes happy or relieved. Many people cycle through these reactions daily or even hourly. It is important for caregivers to take time for themselves with respite support or even taking time to do the things he/she enjoys. Being a caregiver is hard work, but it is important to remember that you cannot be there for someone else unless you take care of yourself. Cancer Care Resources can help you get there. We are here to support you as a caregiver in any way we can. Counseling is also available for those who find counseling helpful and beneficial.
44. My employer is giving me a hard time about taking so much time off of work. What can I do?
Many caregivers are young adults working full-time jobs, raising families, and caring for a loved one with a serious or life threatening illness. Sometimes it is necessary to take time off of work due to medical appointments or a family member's illness. It is important to know that you have certain laws to protect you. The Oregon Family Leave Act and the Family Medical Leave Act assist employees who have a seriously ill family member by protecting their employment while allowing for time off. In most circumstance, the time off is unpaid, but your employment status is protected. For more information, please see the Oregon Resources section of this website and search "Workplace Issues" or call Cancer Care Resources at 503-528-5236.
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Click Here to register for the 2008 PAR for the Cause Golf Tournament.
Click Here to register for the 2008 BID for the Future Dinner and Auction. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
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