Helping caregivers look after cancer patients dying at home

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Teaching caregivers how to deal with the symptoms of cancer patients significantly improves their quality of life.
Most cancer patients would like to die peacefully in their own home. But this involves caregivers in providing emotional support and nursing care which can be psychologically and physically draining. No wonder research has shown that family caregivers are at higher risk for depression, health problems, and even increased mortality.

A study from the University of South Florida now reveals that when caregivers are trained by hospice nurses, their new-found skills lead to enhanced quality of life. The study involved showing family members how to cope with common, and distressing, cancer symptoms like pain and breathing problems. The group receiving this instruction was compared to another receiving standard hospice care for their relative and another receiving standard care and supportive visits. The first group reported better outcomes than the other two - better quality of life and reduced sense or burden and distress. This is just a simple intervention but its effects are powerful.

Source
Cancer online 2nd December 2005 (print January 2006)