As a caregiver, it might seem like your only role is to support others, but it’s crucial to remember that you also need care and support.

Self-Care

Prioritizing your emotional and physical well-being is essential. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the changes and responsibilities in your life, be honest with yourself about your feelings.

Make a list of activities that help you feel relaxed and in control. Aim to prioritize one or two of these activities this week.

Consider if there are family members, friends, or hired help who can take on some of your caregiving duties. Simple tasks like preparing meals, taking out the garbage, driving to appointments, or picking up prescriptions can be delegated.

Focus on receiving the support you need to stay balanced and healthy.

Additional Self-Care Tips:

• Engage in therapy
• Schedule regular breaks for relaxation
• Join support groups for cancer caregivers
• Visit with friends, family, or grandchildren
• Stay on top of your health with regular checkups

Expand the Caregiver Circle

Remember, caregiving should not be a solo effort. Involve family, friends, church members, or hired help (both professional and volunteer) to create a support team.

Distributing tasks among multiple people makes them more manageable and prevents burnout. Caregiving services can include house cleaning, meal delivery, transportation, and health insurance advocacy. For assistance locating these services, ask your local hospital's social workers for referrals or contact your county health agency.

Plan Ahead

Once your caregiver circle is established, identify the areas where you need the most help.

List the tasks that need to be done, including the time required for each and when they need to happen. Planning in advance helps prevent last-minute emergencies and allows you to develop strategies for unexpected challenges.

Consider using electronic calendars or scheduling apps to keep everyone organized and informed. These tools can be shared among the caregiving team to ensure everyone is aware of what needs to be done.

Tasks for the caregiving team might include food preparation, cleaning, transportation, companionship, support at doctor visits, and picking up medications.

Becoming an Advocate

Learning about CLL can empower you and reduce fear as you support your loved one. Here are some ways to learn more about CLL:

• Watch HealthTree University videos
• Read introductory pages about CLL
• Stay updated with the latest CLL news from HealthTree articles
• Help your loved one create a HealthTree Cure Hub Registry account to track their labs
• Join the HealthTree Community Group
• Attend upcoming expert webinars or watch previous recordings to learn from specialists
• Read “Questions to Ask Your Doctor”