Giving caregivers the support they need
Caregivers play vital roles in a cancer patient’s care and support system. If you’ve recently become a caregiver to someone with cancer, you can trust that your Baylor Scott & White team is as concerned about your well-being as much as your loved one’s.
Your loved one’s nurse navigator can serve as a single point of contact for questions you may have and resources you may need. They can help you learn about your loved one’s diagnosis, treatment options, clinical trials and support groups, which will help you throughout the journey.
The nurse navigator also wants to help ensure you, as the caregiver, feel up to the demands of caregiving, which can affect you emotionally and physically. Below are some steps you can take and resources available to you as your loved one receives care.
Mental and emotional health
The psychological and emotional stress of caregiving is perhaps the hardest part of caring for a loved one. It’s perfectly normal to feel anger, sadness or guilt, and juggling the medical needs of someone else can feel very overwhelming.
Talking to a mental health counselor or social worker is a good first step toward caring for your mental well-being. You can also take other steps to feel more in control of the situation and lessen the overwhelm of caregiving.
Share your feelings
Whether caring for a parent, spouse or child, you have a unique relationship with the person who has cancer. Your parent may not want to accept help from a child, and you may feel grief over the possibility of losing a spouse or child.
These feelings are valid, and you need to address them to protect your own mental health. Support groups offer safe spaces to meet other people in your situation, or you may feel more comfortable discussing them with a therapist or through the act of journaling.
Ask for help
Don’t feel like you have to do everything you did before you took on the role of caregiver. You may receive offers of help, and when you do, be specific with your requests, such as cooking meals or doing household chores.
Help can come in other ways, as well. For example, online delivery services may help make grocery shopping or medication pickups easier. Find a website that allows you to hire people for one-off tasks, such as yard maintenance. Use social media to update loved ones if that’s easier than calling people individually.
Finally, learn to let go of small tasks when you don’t have the time or energy to address them. It’s okay to let dishes sit in the sink for one night or if leaves pile up in the yard.
Schedule personal time off
You may feel guilty about doing things you enjoy when your loved one is dealing with cancer. However, those opportunities to recharge will improve your mental and physical well-being.
Make time every day for something you enjoy, even if it’s a 10-minute walk or 30 minutes to watch your favorite TV show. Try to maintain your routines as much as you can, whether going to church on Sunday or attending your monthly book club. A social worker can help you arrange respite care for those times.
Physical well-being
It’s easy for your physical health to become a low priority when you’re caring for someone with a serious illness, but if your body is not well, you won’t have the energy or strength to be there for your loved one.
While it can feel difficult to make time for healthy habits, there are some simple steps you can take to help stay physically healthy:
- Drink plenty of water: Dehydration can make you feel tired, cause headaches and bring on other uncomfortable symptoms. Drink enough that your urine is pale yellow or clear.
- Eat a healthy diet: Healthy foods will give you energy. For simple, nutritious meals, stock up on bagged salad blends, frozen vegetables and grains, low-sodium canned beans and lean poultry.
- Get sufficient sleep: Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
- Keep your medical appointments: Ask friends or family to sit with your loved one, if needed, so you can attend checkups and screenings.
- Take a daily walk: Regular exercise lowers your stress levels and gives you an energy boost.
Find a location near you
At Baylor Scott & White, you have access to compassionate, expert care for a wide range of cancers. We help you find cancer support services at a location that fits your needs. We offer several locations for your care across North and Central Texas.
AccentCare - Fort Worth
3880 Hulen St , Fort Worth, TX, 76107
AccentCare Home Health of Brenham
526 W Main St , Brenham, TX, 77833
AccentCare Home Health of College Station
119 Medical Park Lane Ste C, Huntsville, TX, 77340
AccentCare Home Health of College Station
1605 Rock Prairie Rd Ste 206, College Station, TX, 77845
AccentCare Home Health Of Denton
225 W. Mulberry St. Ste A, Denton, TX, 76201
AccentCare Home Health Of Desoto
911 York Drive Ste 203, DeSoto, TX, 75115
AccentCare Home Health Of Fort Worth (Arlington)
700 Highlander Blvd Ste 205, Arlington, TX, 76015
AccentCare Home Health of Huntsville
122 Medical Park Lane B , Huntsville, TX, 77340
AccentCare Home Health of Marble Falls
1100 Mission Hills Dr Ste 100, Marble Falls, TX, 78654
AccentCare Home Health Of McKinney
6800 Weiskopf Ave Ste 100, McKinney, TX, 75070
AccentCare Home Health Of Taylor (Hutto)
567 Chris Kelley Blvd Ste 201, Hutto, TX, 78634
AccentCare Home Health Of Temple
3809 S General Bruce Dr Ste 105B, Temple, TX, 76502
AccentCare Home Health Of Waco
8300 Central Park Dr Ste A, Waco, TX, 76712
AdventHealth Central Texas
2201 S Clear Creek Rd , Killeen, TX, 76549
Andrews Women's Hospital at Baylor Scott & White - Fort Worth
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White - Hillcrest Infectious Disease Clinic
50 Hillcrest Medical Blvd MOB1, Ste 104, Waco, TX, 76712
Baylor Scott & White - Plano Brain and Spine Center
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 810, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White - Texas Brain and Spine Institute
900 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White - Texas Brain and Spine Institute - Huntsville
122 Medical Park Ln Ste A, Huntsville, TX, 77340
Baylor Scott & White - The Brenham Clinic
600 N Park St , Brenham, TX, 77833
- Monday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White 65+ Clinic
4716 Alliance Blvd Ste 500, Plano, TX, 75093
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Cardiac Imaging Specialists
1100 Allied Dr , Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Cardiovascular and Imaging Consultants
4708 Alliance Blvd Ste 450, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Digestive Care
3434 Swiss Ave Ste 200, Dallas, TX, 75204
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart and Lung Disease Center - Fort Worth
1420 8th Ave Ste 103, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Anna
450 N Standridge Blvd , Anna, TX, 75409
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Decatur
2401 S FM 51 Ste 200, Decatur, TX, 76234
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Denton
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Idabel, OK
4 SE Avenue A , Idabel, OK, 74745
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Keller (Satellite)
3124 N Tarrant Pkwy Ste 204, Keller, TX, 76177
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - McKinney (Satellite)
5236 W University Dr Ste 4450, McKinney, TX, 75071
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Mt Pleasant (Satellite)
1011 N Jefferson Ave , Mt Pleasant, TX, 75455
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Paris
875 S Collegiate Dr , Paris, TX, 75462
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Plano
4716 Dexter Dr Ste 100, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sherman Sycamore (Satellite)
203 E Sycamore St , Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sulphur Springs
601 Airport Rd Ste 110, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care – Sherman Highland (Satellite)
300 N Highland Ave , Sherman, TX, 75092
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Irving
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Bldg 1, Ste 360, Irving, TX, 75061
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Abilene
1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Amarillo
1901 Medi Park Dr Ste 2051, Amarillo, TX, 79106
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Dallas
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Longview
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Lubbock
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Midland/Odessa
420 E 6th St Ste 102, Odessa, TX, 79761
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Waxahachie
2360 N Interstate 35E MOB 2, Ste 310, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Specialists - Fort Worth
1250 8th Ave Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Lung Disease Specialists - Dallas
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White Ambulatory Endoscopy Center
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 210, Plano, TX, 75093
- Monday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
How we reviewed this page
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January 23, 2025
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Medically reviewed by:
Angie Fraticelli, LMSW, MHA
Social worker support
Your loved one’s care team includes dedicated oncology social workers who are uniquely qualified to help support people with cancer and their loved ones.
Oncology social workers focus on the nonmedical aspects of care. In addition to helping with the logistics of care, such as transportation, they can help you navigate the financial and legal concerns you and your loved one may need to address.
Financial assistance
A social worker can help communicate with insurance companies about your loved one’s coverage. They can also find financial programs offered by pharmaceutical companies that may help lower the costs of care.
Oncology social workers at Baylor Scott & White can also connect you with financial-assistance programs, such as low-interest payment plans, discounted care and other services.
Legal assistance
Depending on your loved one’s diagnosis, you may need to make decisions about their care. A social worker can help you and your loved one access the resources needed to create an advance directive, a document that spells out a patient’s wishes for care in the event they can’t speak for themselves. Your social worker can also help you arrange healthcare power of attorney, which allows you to act on your loved one’s behalf.