Caregiver during Covid pandemic

Being a Caregiver during Covid pandemic

Being a caregiver to my mother as she was navigated breast cancer was one of the worst times in my life. First of all, I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to a caregiver to someone with cancer during the Covid pandemic. Finally, that’s a whole new level of stress!

Again, remember that you’re not alone in this crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends talking with your doctor. First, discuss if you should delay any treatments. Second, cal them before appointments to find out if there are any special precautions you should be taking. For example, wearing a face mask. med-Q Medication Compliance system offers theses facts that will help you, the caregiver, and your loved one during these challenging times.

Caregivers know that a person receiving chemotherapy has special needs.

For example, the chemo not only kills cancer cells, but it can also weaken your Mom’s personal immune system. Therefore, chemo therapy can often put people at an increased risk of getting a new kind of infection. Again, an infection with a weakened immune system can be very serious. Again, it can be fatal. It can affect whether your loved one is healthy enough to continue to get their chemotherapy treatments. For others, it can put them in the hospital. Finally, it can be life-threatening. Having a weakened immune system also puts them at an elevated chance of developing some kind of serious complications from COVID-19.

The CDC has been providing info on how to lower the risk of infection during chemo. Read Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients program. These PDF’s is available in English and Spanish language. The standard advice that the rest of the world is now following – clean your hands often, watch out for a fever and other symptoms of infection is more important. Again, people with cancer and their families are all too familiar with the new normal. Remember, if you become infected with COVID-19, you risk infecting your loved one with cancer as well. Therefore, in order to lower the chances of either you or your loved one testing positive, Med-Q Pill Box with alarms recommends these precautions for people with breast cancer:

Watch out for symptoms of the Virus: fever of 100.3ºF (37.5ºC) or higher, a new cough, or experiencing some shortness of breath.

Wash your hands with soap often.

Avoid close contact with other people as much as possible (social distancing). Stay at home as much as possible. Keep a safe distance of 6 feet plus between you and non-household members. If you must leave home, avoid places where people crowd together. If you can, have supplies and food delivered direct to the home.

And, what should you do if you become ill?

Immediately separate yourself from your loved one and all other family members. If you must remain in the same household, isolate yourself in a separate room. The best, with a separate bathroom. Find someone else to be the caregiver for your loved one. It is very easy to get over stressed during this difficult time. However, one can take comfort that you are doing the best you can to protect yourself as well as your loved one. Remember, Caregiver during Covid pandemic is something we are all going to get through.