Cancer can be one of the most terrifying words in our language. A person who has been diagnosed with cancer is faced with the harsh realities of fighting a difficult battle while knowing that it may be a battle that can't be won. Unfortunately, cancer doesn’t just affect the person who has been diagnosed, families become victims too. Over and above the tremendous emotional distress that cancer causes, the family fighting the disease carries other burdens including lost income and medical costs.
Family and friends have the best intentions, but family and friends can be overwhelming to someone facing cancer with their research efforts. Family and friends can be overly enthusiastic in advocating aggressive treatment without fully understanding the side effects and outcomes. However our family and friends are crucial to survival. Numerous studies have correlated cancer survival with social contacts. Knowing your limits is important. It is ok to take a rest and regroup. Set your priorities and acknowledge your limitations.
As a leading provider of experienced caregivers in Atlanta, Easy Living Services has worked with hundreds of families suffering through cancer. As a result of our experiences, we would like to share the following insights:
Managing Cancer: 10 Key Points
- Cancer treatment is often invasive, physically and emotionally draining and very scary for the person going through it.
- Families can never understand what their loved one is going through, emotionally and physically. You can’t fix their problems, but you can listen and be understanding.
- Taking care of a loved one with cancer may involve great sacrifices, such as quitting a job or making up for their lost income.
- Families that maintain positive attitudes and steadfast support are the most successful in navigating the cancer journey.
- People with cancer don’t want to feel helpless, even when they may be. Treating them as such, even with the most caring intentions, may make things worse.
- Families with cancer loved ones need answers as much as the person who is dealing with this disease. Forums, friends and support groups can provide comfort and understanding.
- Reach out for help if needed. Professional caregiver services as well as friends, family and your church or synagogue are valuable resources.
- Accompany your loved one to a doctor’s visit. It may be difficult, but not nearly as difficult as it will be for your loved one. They will sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness.
- Cancer isn’t pretty. Make your loved one feel beautiful inside with your thoughtfulness and caring. Never be ashamed to take them with you, even when they may look terrible. The fight and its appearance should be construed as a badge of courage.
- Cancer is everyone’s fight. Participate in walks, events and fundraisers. You never know when this effort may end up helping you.
For more helpful information on cancer treatment and how to navigate through the journey, click on the link below for access to our resource center:
http://easylivingservices.com/atlanta-at-home-cancer-care-resources/
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services
Food safety is important for everyone - but especially important for people receiving cancer treatment. Cancer treatment and other mediations that help fight the disease, can cause side effects that may weaken your immune system. Maintaining a strong immune system is important to help fight infection and remove other foreign agents from your body. Infections can be brought on by bacteria and other pathogens that cause foodborne illness. Be aware that as you age, your immunity to infection naturally is weakened. Here are some tips to help you be vigilant when handling, preparing, and consuming foods.
- Keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold and put leftovers in the refrigerator as soon as you have finished eating.
- Scrub all raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them. Do not eat foods that cannot be washed well like raspberries and mushrooms. Don't forget to scrub items that have rough surfaces before you cut them like melons, pineapple and avocado.
- Wash your hands, knives, and counter tops before and after you prepare food.
- Use seperate cutting boards for meat and for fruits and vegetables.
- Thaw meat in the refrigerator or defrost in the microwave, do not let thaw at room temperature.
- Cook meat thoroughly. Meat should not have any pink inside and eggs should be hard, not runny.
- Do not eat raw fish or shellfish such as sushi and uncooked oysters.
- Make sure that all juices, milk products, and honey are pasteurized.
- Do not buy foods from bulk bins.
- Do not eat at buffets, salad bars, or self-service restaurants
- Do not eat foods that show signs of mold. This includes moldy cheese such as bleu cheese and Roquefort.
For more information about caring for yourself or a loved one who is battling cancer, our resource center offers a variety of free publications. Just click the following link: Atlanta At-Home Cancer Care Resources
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When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer so many thoughts and emotions come at you at once. Your first response is panic and fear. There is no reason to think the worst upon learning of a cancer diagnosis, Cancer is NOT Always Terminal! There are many factors that weigh in when it comes to the prognosis. New treatments have been introduced that improve the survival rate for many types of cancers.
Become Educated-Don't Overdo the Research After being diagnosed many people turn to the Internet to find out all they can on the pros and cons of cancer and its treatment. You can't always believe everything that you read and some of the information can be overwhelming and discouraging. Do research, learn what you can, but but find a medical team that you are confident in and rely on their input and advice. Bring your ideas. thoughts and concerns to your appointments and get your doctor's opinions and suggestions on the type of treatment that is best for your loved one.
Be A Support A cancer diagnosis can be very scary making it easy to focus on the negatives. Your loved one is going to need to remain positive and exert a great deal of effort and energy in order to beat the cancer. Your loved one will need your help to remain calm, focused, and to have faith and hope that a cancer free outcome is in their future.
Be Prepared for Schedule Changes You should be prepared for changes in your daily routine if you are going to assist your loved one throughout the treatment. If you are working you will need to discuss with your boss about the possibility of having a flexible schedule or about taking time off. If you have small children you will need to line up temporary back up care assistance. It will be important to go on medical appointments with your loved one, especially at the beginning. It may be difficult for them to process all of the information and having someone to take notes and ask questions is important. Once treatment starts there may be side effects with nausea and diarrhea and you loved one will be weak and need a variety of assistance to remain stable.
Try to make the main focus of your energy and attention be on the needs of your loved one. A cancer diagnosis is not the end, it is just the beginning of a fight for which your love, support and hope will be very much needed.
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services
Johns Hopkins released the following information on cancer in a newsletter. We found the information so valuable we wanted to share the highlights on avoiding and fighting cancer.
Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
When a person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroy, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply. CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
Sugar is a cancer-feeder, eliminating sugar cuts off food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes made with Aspartame is also harmful. A better substitute is hone but only in a very small amount.
Milk causes the body to produce mucus, cancer feeds on mucus. Cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.
Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic. Meat also contains livestock hormones and parasites which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer. Meat protein is difficult to digest. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.
A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.
Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
Some supplements build up the immune system others like vitamin E are know to cause programmed cell death. This is the body's normal method of disposing of unwanted cells.
Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily and deep breathing help to get more oxygen to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy such as a treatment in a Hyperbaric Chamber is another excellent means to help destroy cancer cells.
Cancer is a disease of the mind, body and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit and learn to relax and enjoy each and every day.
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Most senior patients enter the hospital as a result of a complication of a chronic illness or a serious life-threatening event. Because your loved one is likely to be seriously ill, there may be a great deal of uncertainty with their prognosis. Your loved one may decline and you may be forced to make crucial decisions without their input. There are steps you can take to ease the stress of a hospitalization and to ensure that you remain in control and a part of the health care team.
Basic documents we all need:
Durable Power of Attorney - An individual you have appointed to make decisions about your medical care if you unconscious or can no loner speak for yourself.
Advance Medical Directive - This informs your physician and family as to what kind of care you wish to receive in the event that you can no longer make your own medical decisions.
Living Will - An advance directive that outlines what kind of medical treatment you want to receive in certain situations. This takes effect if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and have less than six months to live, or if you are in a persistent vegetative state.
Do-Not-Resuscitate - Is the decision to have no efforts made to restart the heart after it has stopped. If the decision is made that resuscitation is not what you desire, then a do-not=resuscitate order must be written by your physician. A DNR can be part of your advance medical directive.
Information needed to give to hospital personnel:
Medical history, in writing.
A list of physicians and phone numbers.
A list of current medications and the dosages.
A list of allergies.
Providing this information immediately upon admission to the hospital can save crucial and critical time. Advance directives, living wills, and durable power of attorney forms are all simple documents to complete, and samples may be obtained through your attorney or your state's attorney general's office. Once the forms are completed signed copies should be given to your family physician and kept in a secure place that can be easily obtained if needed.
A hospital sitter is also a great solution to ensure comfort and continuous personal attention is given when family members can't be available. A hospital sitter offers peace of mind and emotional support by ensuring safety and companionship.
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services
Your loved one has been discharged from the hospital. How do you get them reacclimated to home life?
Many older Americans do not successfully manage the transition from the hospital to home and as a consequence, end up returning to the hospital again. Studies show that 1 in 5 medicare patients is readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Nearly 50% of the readmissions are linked to emotional problems, failure to follow proper treatment protocols, skipping physician follow-up appointments and lack of in-home support.
Planning ahead and getting organized in advance can ease the transition home and greatly improve chances for a complete recovery. Consider the following issues when planning for discharge from either a hospital or rehab facility:
- Order necessary equipment and supplies in advance. Check with the hospital's Discharge Planner for recommendations on appropriate items such as: hospital bed, shower chair, portable commode, oxygen system, disposable gloves, and skin care items.
- Temporarily move out items in the home that could pose fall risks such as rugs, electrical cords, and clutter.
- Create a system to record and track important information such as phone numbers and medications with dosing times. Identify symptoms that should not be ignored and should be reported immediately to the attending physician. A notebook or white board could work well.
- Purchase any special food items that may be needed during recovery such as "Ensure". Consider lining up nutritious food delivery services or recruit friends/neighbors to provide meals during the transition period.
- Develop a schedule for "checking in" on your loved one with family members and/or friends. If this is not possible, consider retaining the services of an in-home care provider to check in at regular intervals and to provide feedback on your loved one's progress.
Bringing a family member home from the hospital can be quite overwhelming. You will likely feel stressed over all that must be done prior to discharge. Planning during the early stages of hospitalization can make all of the difference in a successful transition home.
More Transition Tips
Need some additional help at home following discharge?
Contact Easy Living at 770-442-8664 to learn how In-Home Caregiver Services by certified professionals can ease your burden and promote a full recovery.
Call us. We're here to help.
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services
Learning that you have cancer is a difficult experience. After your cancer diagnosis, you may feel anxious, afraid or overwhelmed and you may feel that your life is no longer within your control. For many people, regaining a sense of control begins by learning as much as they can about their cancer and its treatment.
Even though your needs are greater when you have cancer, it can be hard to ask for help to meet those needs. No one needs to face cancer alone. When people with cancer seek and receive help from others, they often find it easier to cope.
When helping others, people feel good. Your family and friends want to be helpful but they may not know what to say or do. They will feel more at ease when you ask them something specific to do for you! Family and friends can run errands, provide transportation, prepare a meal and help with around the house chores. Learn to accept help from others during this difficult time.
Talk to other people who have cancer. It may help to talk to others who have been in your situation. Other cancer survivors can share their experiences and give you insight into what you can expect during and after treatment.
A great way to connect with other cancer survivors is through support groups. Cancer support centers offer individual and family counseling, educational information, practical help and support for not only you but for your entire family. An excellent support center in the Atlanta area is the Wellness Community which is affiliated with Northside Hospital, www.thewellnesscommunity-atlanta.org. Another great resource is the American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivors Network, www.csn.cancer.org.
Finding a source of spiritual support will help you stay positive and stay emotionally healthy. What comforted you through rough times before your cancer was diagnosed is likely to help ease your worries now.
Getting caregiver service from a Home Care company may be an option to consider at this time. Just as you need time for yourself, your family members may also need time to rest, have fun, and take care of their other duties. Caregivers can provide temporary assistance with housekeeping, meals and so much more. Should you or a loved one need temporary relief or assistance call us at 770-442-8664.
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services
Choosing to place your loved one under the care of a hospice team is an extremely emotional decision. It signifies the end of active treatment for the terminal condition and a movement into uncertain territory, for client and family. In choosing hospice care for my sister who had exhausted treatment options for her cancer, I wrestled with the idea that I was giving up hope and giving up on her. Initially, the anguish associated with this decision was overwhelming. My sister's medical team did little to educate our family on the benefits of hospice; which heightened feelings of hopelessness, fear and guilt. Was I doing the right thing for my sister? What if by some miracle her condition improved; could she leave hospice and restart treatment? Would pain medications simply hasten death? Fortunately, I was able to connect with a knowlegable social worker who answered my questions, offered reassurance, and helped me gain "peace" with the decision. In the end, my sister was extremely well cared for by a team of compassionate professionals who gained control of her physical pain, provided "TLC", education and so much more.
Many patients and families are not familiar with the goals, benefits and limitations of hospice care. Hopefully, this brief outline will assist in summarizing key points associated with hospice services...
- Hospice care is a specialized healthcare program designed to meet the needs of terminally ill patients and their loved ones. Its focus is on pain management and comfort. Patients can select hospice care when his/her physician determines that life expectancy for ANY terminal condition is 6 months or less. Under Hospice care, the patient will no longer receive treatment designed to "cure" the terminal health condition. A patient placed under hospice care may very well live beyond the 6 month timeframe and is still eligible to receive hospice services, if recertified by their physician.
- The decision is not "set in stone". A patient that is placed on hospice care is free to change his mind, leave hospice care and restart standard medical care at any time. Sometimes, hospice care benefits the patient so much that they are able to extend their lives and leave the hospice program.
- Also, hospice services can be restarted with physician's certification at a future time. In fact, In order to qualify for hospice care at home, there must be a willing, able and available caregiver in the home. Hospice provides some personal care assistance such as bathing and dressing. However, it does NOT provide full time caregivers. Many families select professional caregivers from Home Care agencies to provide "round the clock" coverage for their loved ones.
- Medicare Part A beneficiaries may elect to receive hospice care for two, 90 day periods, followed by an unlimited number of 60 day periods. The patients physician must recertify at the start of each new period.
- If dissatisfied, patients can leave one hospice program and enter a new one once each benefit period.
- Hospice care can take place in a medicare approved hospice facility or in the majority of cases, at home (including patients' assisted living or nursing facility). If an in-facility care option is selected, the family should understand that charges for normal "room & board" will be the responsibility of the patient. Investigate out of pocket costs before making selection between in-home vs. in-facility services.
- When hospice care is received at home, family members remain as primary caregivers.
- The care team will typically consist of a physician, nurse, social worker, counselor, physical/occupational/speech therapists, nursing assistants, and volunteers. The patients regular physician can also be included as part of the team.
- The client and family will receive a whole host of services including: physician and nursing services, medical equipment (hospital bed, wheelchair, walker, bedside commode, lift, etc), drugs for symptom control and pain (small copay may apply), homemaker services, physical/occupational therapy, social worker services, dietary couseling, grief counseling, massage therapy, short term inpatient care if needed for pain and symptom management and short term respite care.
- The respite care benefit is an important one for family members. It provides for short term (5 days) care for the patient in a medicare approved facility to allow family caregivers to rest and "recharge".
- Once hospice care has been selected, the following costs will NO LONGER be covered under Medicare: treatments intended to cure the terminal illness, drugs intended to cure the illness, care from any provider that wasn't established by the hospice team, "room & board", care in an emergency room/ ambulance/ inpatient facility unless it was arranged by your hospice team.
Need more information? Click Here to Review the CMS/Medicare Booklet on Hospice Services
Seeking hospice and palliative care isn't about giving up hope. Its really about finding the appropriate level of care in one's final weeks or months. For many, the comfort of home and spending time with loved ones is desired over the cold, sterile setting of a hospital room. If you have made the decision to transition to hospice care and need information regarding supplemental In-Home care services, please contact Easy Living Services at 770-442-8664.
We're Here to Help. Call Us.
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services
When a friend or a loved one is going through a difficult time, we feel bad for them and often offer our services through "If there is anything I can do..." The phrase demonstrates that we feel sympathy but usually isn't interpreted as a sincere gesture. Even though flowers and cards are always nice to receive, sometimes the most helpful and appreciated gestures involve a helping hand with everyday tasks that are usually taken for granted.
There is a single best answer to "If there's anything I can do...", it is to BE THERE.
Be there to ensure that your loved one with cancer isn't trying to battle the disease while using every ounce of strength to manage everything else. Here's a list of several life-style management chores that you can help with or when time doesn't allow, hire a Home Care service to provide support with these chores. These are important daily tasks and ones that are very, very appreciated:
- Mowing the lawn/gardening/rake leaves/shovel snow
- Take care of the laundry (wash, fold, and put away)
- Housekeeping chores or hire a service to clean
- Change the sheets
- Water houseplants
- Running Errands
- Grocery store
- Pick up prescriptions
- Picking up/dropping off kids at school
- Dry cleaning
- Making meals
- Take care of pets
- Paying bills/pick up & drop off mail
- Taking out trash
- Minor household repairs (replace batteries, light bulbs, filters)
- Put up and take down holiday decorations
- Provide transportation to appointments and errands
- Offer to stay and keep them company during treatments
Most importantly, be there! Stop in a see how your friend is doing. Have a meal with your loved one. Show that you sincerely care and are there for them at what may be the most difficult time of their life. Your efforts, no matter how big or small, will be treasured. Knowing you are not alone during a difficult time is often the best gift of all.
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services
Each week, Easy Living Services interacts with clients that are struggling to make decisions not only for themselves, but also for a loved one. Each family has questions and we took our most common queries and posted them below. We hope you find them useful!
What are the three most important qualities to look for in a caregiver?
- Compassion, Passionate about helping others & Skilled - Caregivers that are Certified Nursing Assistants who have a minimum of 5 years experience. Demand a rigorous screening process that includes an extensive background check, in-depth interview and personal and professional reference checks. Only with a company that provides this are ensured of a highly skilled caregiver who is passionate about caring for those who need assistance. Easy Living Services caregivers meet all of these criteria and are both insured and covered by workers compensation.
What kind of services should I expect from my caregiver?
- All non-medical assistance that will keep your loved one safe and comfortable at home, at the hospital or in a nursing or re-hab facility. Companion / Homemaker / Personal Care - Caregivers can provide include light housekeeping, errands, meals and companionship. Personal Care can include bathing, dressing, grooming, safety, sanitation and meal preparation.
What if my caregiver can't make it due to illness?
- Ensure that your provider has a large staff of qualified, professional and reliable caregivers - This ensures that a replacement is available in the event of caregiver illness or emergency absence. Easy Living Services maintains a backup program for each caregiver.
Why should I not hire a private caregiver out of the newspaper or internet?
- You will want to ensure that caregivers are screened, trained and insured for your safety - Caregivers that have been trained specifically in working with persons who are disabled, recovering from an illness or injury as well as senior care must be adequately screened to ensure that they are qualified to care for your loved one. Working with an agency is like having an insurance plan ensuring that you have a qualified caregiver available when you want and need "life made easier".
What is live-in care and how is the cost determined?
- Clients requiring around the clock care can opt for a caregiver to live with their loved one. The caregiver must be able to sleep 7-8 hours at night and have a separate room for sleeping. Live-in services are available for both Companion and Personal Care. Easy Living Services rates are highly competitive - starting at $185/Day.
Can I pay by a caregiver by the hour?
- Yes. Some clients require only part-time care. Easy Living Services provides hourly care starting at only $16.95/Hour. (Some minimums may apply.)
What about emergency care after business hours?
- Your caregiver provider should be available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When their office is closed, there needs to be an on-call knowledgeable person availble to assist with any emergency needs. Easy Living Services is provides emergency after hours care 24/7/365.
Why would I want to use a locally owned company rather than a franchise agency?
- Ask yourself if a bigger company is necessarily a better company. Home Care agencies are one of the largest growing industries in today's market. "Big business" has seized this opportunity. Franchised, "locally owned" agencies are opening their doors throughout the city. A franchise owner typically goes to franchise school for a couple of weeks and then becomes apart of a large corporate run entity. At Easy Living we are able to modify and implement the changes that you want and need without going through the Corporate chain of command. At Easy Living caring is more than just a business, it is our philosophy in action every day!
We are very proud to maintain the high standards that have made Easy Living Services an Atlanta leader in providing professional caregivers. We should know - we've been at it for over 17 years!
For more information on professional in-home care for your loved one, please contact Easy Living services today at (770) 442-8664.
Home Care for Atlanta Seniors | Easy Living Services