ONS Connect - November 2008 - (Page 14)

Sherwood says that the key to improving caregiver care is collaboration with others who have successful caregiver programs. individuals. This body of research demonstrates that it is important to help caregivers as well as patients.” NFCA is advocating for medical education programs to teach doctors, nurses, and all healthcare professionals to further enhance their understanding of how to work constructively with the chronically ill and their family caregivers. “We need to find a systematic way to offer information and support to the patient-caregiver dyad. Family caregivers are the bedrock of chronic care in the United States, and as health professionals, we are called on to find better ways to assist them with managing the stress associated with cancer,” Northouse says. Sherwood advises, “Nurses do not have to reinvent the wheel. There has been over three decades of research in developing caregiver interventions, both inside and outside of oncology. We need to learn from our colleagues in other specialties and build on what they have accomplished. Reach out and see what other people have done, use what worked, and leave out what hasn’t. The best method by which to improve caregiver care is by collaborating with experts in the field.” Caregivers frequently will look to nurses for information, feedback, and insight into how they should best care for and support their loved ones. “Nursing interventions for caregivers do not have to be complex or costly,” Northouse says. “Caregivers report more uncertainty about the illness than patients do, possibly because of the lack of communication with health professionals. By taking the time to provide them with concise explanations and information during each visit, caregivers will feel more informed and more capable of coping with this illness.” When Mr. and Mrs. Jones ask, “What are we going to do?” you respond with a smile, reach out your hand, place it in theirs, and reply, “I am here for you. I will be with you on this journey. Lean on me.” ✱ Goode, K.T., Haley, W.E., Roth, D.L., & Ford, G.R. (1998). Predicting longitudinal changes in caregiver physical and mental health: A stress process model. Health Psychology, 17(2), 190 –198. National Family Caregivers Association. (2002a). Caregiving statistics. Retrieved July 22, 2008, from http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/who_ are_family_caregivers/care_giving_statstics .cfm National Family Caregivers Association. (2002b). What is family caregiving? Retrieved July 22, 2008, from http://www.thefamilycaregiver .org/who_are_family_caregivers/what_is_fam ily_caregiving.cfm Facts About Caregivers • An informal caregiver is a non-paid family member, or a person who has a significant bond with the patient, who provides physical, emotional, financial, or other support. • Caregiving may be rewarding for the caregiver, but it also may create strain and burden. • Immediate family members most often take on the informal caregiver role. • Women are more likely to be caregivers than men. • More than one-third of informal caregivers are older than 55. • The need for informal caregivers is expected to increase. Honea, N.J., Brintnall, R., Given, B., Sherwood, P., Colao, D.B., Somers, S.C., et al. (2008). Putting Evidence Into Practice®: Nursing assessment and interventions to reduce family caregiver strain and burden. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(3), 507–516. Contributing Editor Michele E. Gaguski, MSN, RN, AOCN ®, CHPN, APN-C, is an oncology clinical nurse specialist in oncology services at Ocean Medical Center in Brick, NJ. 14 ONS CONNECT November 2008 http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/who_are_family_caregivers/care_giving_statstics.cfm http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/who_are_family_caregivers/care_giving_statstics.cfm http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/who_are_family_caregivers/care_giving_statstics.cfm http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/who_are_family_caregivers/what_is_family_caregiving.cfm http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/who_are_family_caregivers/what_is_family_caregiving.cfm http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/who_are_family_caregivers/what_is_family_caregiving.cfm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ONS Connect - November 2008

ONS Connect - November 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In Lean on Me You Tell Us A Year in the Life-- Month Eleven Put Evidence Into Practice to Manage Caregiver Strain and Burden Web Connect Capitol Connection Caregiver Care New Technique Monitors Patients with NSCLC Calendar of Events Working for You Staying on Top

ONS Connect - November 2008

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