Young Adults as Caregivers

For a young adult, adjusting to the role of caregiver for a loved one with cancer can be a challenge. Individuals ages 18-40 have a unique set of needs and responsibilities that can make being a caregiver especially challenging.

Here are some things you can do to help you in your role as a caregiver:

Keep in mind that being a caregiver can mean many things. Someone is a caregiver for someone else if they provide any level of emotional or practical support. As a young adult, you may not be the primary caregiver, but know that your role is still valuable. Whether you are thousands of miles away from your loved one or living in the same household, it is important that you are involved in ways that are meaningful both for yourself and the person with cancer. You can help your loved one by making phone calls, going to doctors’ appointments, cooking a meal, or offering emotional support.

Communicate with your loved one. Having an open dialogue with your loved one can help gain mutual understanding and can clearly outline your role as a caregiver. Talk to each other about the changes that are happening and how you both are coping. Acknowledge that you may see things differently, and explore ways to come together when you can. Recognize your own limitations regarding the support you are able to provide. Being aware of these limits can help manage your loved one’s expectations and create mutual understanding.

Be involved. Talk with employers or professors about your caregiving responsibilities and how they are impacting you during work or school. The more they know, the more they can support you. They may be able to accommodate you with a more flexible schedule. As a caregiver, you may also have the opportunity to communicate with your loved one’s medical team; talk to your loved one about how involved they would like you to be. Remember: you are an important member of your loved one’s health care team. You can help your loved one by writing down questions to ask before appointments, assisting in managing side effects, and listening and writing down information during appointments.

Make your care a priority, too. Maintaining your own responsibilities, commitments, and lifestyle are all important in ensuring that your needs are met as you care for a loved one. Take advantage of down time to read a book, take a walk, listen to music, meditate, or spend time with friends.

Ask for help when you need it. There are many ways of getting access to respite care to help make your role more manageable. Seek out options for a visiting nurse or homemaker service to give you an extra hand during times that you feel overwhelmed. Insurance providers, hospital social workers, and patient navigators can be helpful in providing information about these services.

Seek support. There are more caregivers your age than you may think. Connecting to a support group can help ease feelings of isolation, provide emotional and practical support, and help maintain aspects of your life that were important before cancer. Online support groups can offer this same support while allowing you to maintain a busy lifestyle. Individual counseling with a professional oncology social worker can help you prioritize your responsibilities, set goals, and find better ways to cope with being a caregiver.

Find what works for you. There is no “right” way to be a caregiver, and everyone responds to this role differently. This is likely very new for you, so give yourself permission to make changes as you go.