Communication tips for caregivers

Instead of assuming, ask your loved one what might be most helpful to them in this moment and check in periodically to see if their needs have changed. It’s normal if your loved one wants something different than what you would want if you were in their shoes.

If you’re unable to attend all appointments, ask your loved one and the medical team for appointments that might be worth rearranging other priorities, or ask about virtual appointments.

Caregiving is often like a marathon instead of a sprint. So when someone offers water, take it. Have some items ready so you know what to say when someone asks the inevitable question, “What can I do to help?”

Discuss with your loved one with whom and how much they want to share about their colorectal cancer diagnosis so that you can respect their wishes.

This seems like a simple concept, but it's not always that easy. Open and honest communication keeps all parties aware of any new feelings or thoughts.

Caregivers are allowed to have them. Take time to develop and understand your own boundaries so you can clearly communicate them with your loved one, the medical team, and your own support system.

Be clear with your support system about when you want advice and when you just want to blow off some steam. Both are necessary on the caregiver journey and the last thing you need is someone trying to solve a problem when you just need to vent.

For many of us, it’s not that easy to ask for help. You may want to take care of everything on your own, but having a few tasks taken off your plate may be the best thing for your mental and physical well-being. Practice asking for help and take it when it's offered.

Accept that you won’t be able to fix all of the problems that your loved one is facing. Sometimes, simply listening to their worries and frustrations can be very comforting for both you and your loved one.

It’s normal to think that talking about your fears and worries will burden your loved one, but many caregivers find that sharing difficult emotions actually relieves anxiety. In most cases, your loved one is worrying about the same things. Allowing the scary thoughts and feelings to come out into the open actually helps to put them into perspective and lightens your burdens.