Are you currently a caregiver for a loved one battling cancer? Do you know the difference between a formal and informal caregiver?
A formal caregiver is one providing skilled nursing services to a patient. An informal caregiver is usually a relative or friend who may or may not live in the same house as the person they are caring for. The National Cancer Institute identifies informal caregivers as family caregivers who may be spouses, partners, children, relatives, or friends who help the patient with activities of daily living and health care needs at home. Many cancer patients today receive part of their care at home. Hospital stays are shorter than they used to be, and there are now more treatments that don’t need an overnight hospital stay or can be given outside of the hospital. People with cancer are living longer and many patients want to be cared for at home as much as possible. It is important that the family caregiver is a part of the team right from the start. These resources are about adult family caregivers in cancer.
For more information and resources for cancer patient’s caregivers, visit cancer.gov.
