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Caring for a Loved One Coping with Lung Cancer

Elderly Care in Newport Coast CA: Lung cancer accounts for 13 percent of cancer diagnoses and 27 percent of cancer deaths throughout the United States each year.

Elderly Care in Newport Coast CA

Lung cancer accounts for 13 percent of cancer diagnoses and 27 percent of cancer deaths throughout the United States each year. This is the leading cause of cancer-related death among both men and women, with it overcoming breast cancer as the leading cancer killer of women since 1982. If your aging parent has recently received a diagnosis of lung cancer, the care that you give them can make all of the difference in how they handle their journey with this disease.

 

Use these tips to help you care for a loved one coping with lung cancer:

  • Do not resist getting help. As a caregiver you want to do everything that you can for your aging parent, and the severity of the diagnosis of lung cancer can make you even more devoted to being hands-on with your parent’s care. It is important to remember, however, that trying to do too much can lead to caregiver burnout, a serious condition that can cause physical and mental health problems for you, and reduced quality of care for your aging parent. Elderly care can help you to balance your desire for your parent to get the highest quality of care possible throughout their experience, and your need to care for yourself.
  • Streamline their life. Especially if your parent is coping with shortness of breath, they are likely to tire easily. This can mean that they do not have the energy to do everything that they want or need to do in a day. Encourage your parent to conserve their energy. Have them eliminate unnecessary tasks in their day, or ensure that you or an elderly home care services provider take care of tasks such as neatening up the house, taking out the trash, or doing laundry so that your parent can still have the energy to do other things in their day.
  • Encourage them to focus on their breathing. While dealing with lung cancer your aging parent might struggle to breathe. When this happens it can be frightening and uncomfortable. Encourage them to relax and focus their mind completely on breathing. Closing their eyes and visualizing the breath moving in and out of their body can help. If they are still having difficulty catching their breath, encourage them to lean forward. This may make it easier for them to breathe and allow them to get control of their breath. Remember that feeling anxious or nervous will only make it more difficult for your parent to breathe. Helping them to relax and release their tension can help them to regain control of their breath and feel much better.
  • Empower them. You and an elderly care provider can be there for your parent to help them handle activities of daily living, provide support, and make their life easier. It is your parent, however, that must make the major decisions regarding treatment of their cancer. Empower your parent to make the decisions that are right for them. Talk to them about the different options and let them know that whatever they choose, you are there for them and will help them through it.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Newport Coast, CA, please contact the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)

 

Sources:

http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/learn-about-lung-cancer/lung-cancer-fact-sheet.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20025531

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