How To Care For Cancer Patients At Home

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, a friend or family member often steps in to take on the role of primary carer. It can be a huge shock and an incredibly anxious time for you both. With the right support and guidance, you can settle into a routine that works for the whole family.

Caring for someone with cancer at home means they can stay in the comfort of familiar surroundings, rather than moving to a residential or nursing home. They remain in the space they know and love, shaped by years of personal touches. You also have the reassurance of being nearby, without the stress of visiting hours or unfamiliar faces overseeing their care. It’s a choice that brings peace of mind to everyone involved.

Today, we’ll explore how to care for a cancer patient at home, including practical tips on how to support both them and you, along with how a live-in carer can help.

Caring for someone with cancer at home

Most people living with cancer want to receive care in the comfort of their own home, and where possible, doctors will often support this. Staying at home can lift spirits, help reduce feelings of stress or sadness and allow the person to remain independent for longer.

The level of care someone needs often changes over time. For instance, they may need less support as treatment ends and their strength returns. On the other hand, if the cancer becomes more advanced, you might find your role growing as they begin to rely on you more.

Offering assistance with daily living tasks

Some cancer patients find it difficult to keep up with daily living tasks, needing help with bathing, washing, toileting and more. Family carers might choose to handle this responsibility themselves, or they may prefer to hire a visiting carer to assist with showering, bathing, shaving and oral hygiene.

If you’d like some guidance, your loved one’s social worker or district nurse will show you how to care for their personal needs. Keeping them in a routine of having a shower or bath regularly can make them feel clean and more comfortable and honour their dignity.

Here are some tips on offering daily living assistance to a cancer patient:

• Use their regular products, although beware of scents and colours that can irritate their skin if they’re going through chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
• Keep an eye on water temperature to make sure it’s not too hot or cold.
• Be sensitive to their feelings and try to maintain their privacy and dignity.
• Encourage them to do what they can, provided it’s safe for them to do so.
• Consider installing equipment that may help both of you, including a shower seat or perching stool at the sink.
• Keep their toothbrush, hairbrush and other hygiene essentials within reach so they can use them whenever they need to.

Helping with dressing

Some cancer treatments can leave people feeling tired or run down, making everyday tasks like getting dressed feel difficult. Even so, changing out of pyjamas can help them feel more like themselves and encourage a positive start to the day.

Some tips for helping your loved one with dressing include:

• They may feel more comfortable in breathable, loose clothing.
• Look for clothes with elastic waistbands and necklines. These are easier to pull on and off than clothes with buttons or zips.
• Hot flushes are a common side effect of cancer and its treatments, so dressing them in light layers that can be added to or removed may be a good idea.
• Clothes that are easy to wash and dry without the need for ironing might be the most practical option, especially if you have other responsibilities to tend to.

Caring for their hair and nails

Cancer treatment can cause hair loss, which may be a deeply upsetting experience for your loved one. If you begin to notice their hair thinning or falling out, their cancer team can offer personalised advice on how to care for their scalp and support their emotional wellbeing.

They might advise you to:

• Choose a sensitive shampoo and conditioner without parabens, scents and colourings to avoid irritating the scalp and making it itchy or inflamed.
• Use a rinse-free shampoo or a shampoo cap that goes directly on their hair without the need for water if they’re struggling to get in the shower or bath.
• A plastic hair-washing tray will be helpful if they can’t get out of bed easily.

Most of these products can be bought from a local pharmacy, and they’ll be able to give you more information on how to use them. Some hairdressers offer home visits if your loved one needs a haircut but isn’t feeling up to going out.

Some cancer treatments also make a patient’s nails more brittle and easier to break. Here are some tips on looking after their nails:

• Keep their hands clean and nails cut short to prevent infection.
• Wear comfortable gloves, socks and shoes that aren’t too tight.
• Moisturise the hands and cuticles to prevent dryness and splitting. You could try a nail-strengthening cream.
• When filing the nails, only move the emery board in one direction, as this will stop the nails from splitting further.

There are plenty of mobile nail artists who will come to your loved one’s house to disguise broken or brittle nails. Some groups are even voluntary, meaning you won’t have to pay for this little confidence boost.

Managing their toilet needs

There are several ways you can make going to the toilet easier for a cancer patient while still encouraging independence and preserving their dignity as much as possible. To help, you could:

• Add a raised toilet seat to make it more comfortable and easier to get on and off.
• Keep a commode or urine bottle by the bed if they’re struggling to walk to the bathroom in time.
• Consider protective bed covers, incontinence pads, and urinary sheaths to prevent accidents throughout the night.
• Swap the toilet paper for wet wipes if their skin is particularly sensitive.

It’s not always a nice topic to broach with a loved one, but keeping an open discussion about toileting needs is essential for a good carer-patient relationship. If they’re struggling to talk to you about this subject, you could consult your district nurse. They’ll give you advice and may refer you to a continence advisor or adult social carer.

Keeping them moving

The person you’re caring for might find it difficult to stand, walk or move over in bed. It’s important for their strength and mobility to keep them standing and walking throughout the day, though, so you may find equipment and walking aids helpful. Their physiotherapist, occupational therapist or district nurse can help you access these, as well as a home falls assessment.

To help your loved one keep motivated to move, try the following tips:

 

• Keep the house well-lit with motion-sensor lights and bright bulbs, especially on the stairs and in the bathroom.
• Clear any clutter or low furniture that might be a trip hazard, so they can walk confidently from room to room.
• Use non-slip mats and rugs, and secure corners with gripper tape to prevent them from becoming a fall risk.
• Make sure they have comfortable shoes that fit well and have good grip on the soles.

If you’re not able to be with them at all times, getting your loved one a personal alarm is an invaluable investment. They can wear it around their neck or wrist, and press the button to call a 24-hour response centre should they need help. This gives you both peace of mind that they’ll be able to get support if they fall or hurt themselves, even if they can’t get hold of you.

Avoiding pressure sores

Pressure sores can develop when someone stays in the same position for long periods, often in bed or a chair, and is unable to move around easily. They tend to appear on the back, bottom or heels. These sores can be painful and lead to infections or serious skin damage, so it’s important to prevent them wherever possible.

Here are some tips on avoiding pressure sores:

• Encourage your loved one to change how they’re sitting or lying regularly. They may need help from you to move positions or turn over.
• Look into pressure-relieving mattresses and pillows, which can reduce the chance of developing sores.
• Ankle and elbow pads are helpful for some cancer patients.
• Gently massage the person’s back, arms and legs with moisturiser suitable for sensitive skin.
• Ask their district nurse to show you the correct way to move them in bed, and about beneficial equipment such as sliding sheets or a hoist.

Reminding them about medications

A common requirement of a family carer is keeping track of medication and reminding a person when it’s time to take doses. It can be difficult for a cancer patient to keep on top of everything they’ve been prescribed, especially when medicines need to be taken at different times of the day, multiple times. With several medications to consider, they might forget to reorder a prescription, leaving them without the correct doses.

If you’re helping someone with their medication, make sure you administer it exactly as their healthcare provider has prescribed. Here are some practical tips on managing their meds:

• Always check that the name and medicine are correctly labelled, in date and taken in a certain way before giving it to your loved one.
• Consider a pill organiser with the days, date and time on each compartment so you and your loved one always know which doses have been given.
• Know whether the medications are to be taken regularly or ‘as required’, such as painkillers.
• Keep a note of how many doses you have left for each medication and make sure you order repeat prescriptions in time so they don’t have to go without.
• Use a medication planner so you, the person you’re caring for, their carers and the rest of the family know exactly what’s happening should you need to hand over responsibility for a while.

Encouraging them to eat

Cancer and its subsequent treatments may leave your loved one without much of an appetite. It’s essential that they get enough calories and nutrients to fuel their body and keep their energy levels high. Ask their healthcare team for advice as to what their diet should include to best support their needs and cancer stage.

Here are some tips for encouraging a cancer patient to eat right:

• Offer small meals more frequently throughout the day rather than at specific mealtimes.
• Let them eat as much as they want when they’re feeling hungry to take advantage of this time.
• Create a pleasant environment during mealtimes with candles, soft music, nice plates and good company.
• Avoid smells that make them feel sick.
• Have snacks readily available so that they can grab one whenever they’re up for eating.
• Focus on nutrition-dense foods that are full of protein, vitamins and minerals.
• Encourage them to drink their calories through milkshakes, smoothies or fortified meal-replacement shakes.

Being there for them

While caring for someone with cancer often requires a lot of physical help from you, you can’t forget the emotional support they’ll likely need as well. A cancer diagnosis can be incredibly isolating.

Macmillan reports that:

• One in six people (18%) lacking support say they lost touch with family and friends because of their cancer diagnosis.
• One in three people (33%) who have experienced isolation say a lack of support has caused them stress and anxiety; more than one in four have experienced depression.
• More than half (53%) have skipped meals or not eaten properly because of a lack of support.
• One in four (27%) haven’t been able to wash themselves properly, with three in five (60%) not being able to complete household chores like cleaning.

Sometimes, simply talking to your loved one helps them work through their emotions and lifts a weight off their chest. The stress of bottling up these emotions can build up and have lasting impacts on their mental health, so encouraging them to share their feelings is often an invaluable way of caring for them through their cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Knowing when to get support

Caring for someone with cancer is highly rewarding and noble, but sometimes it’s impossible to do it all. A live-in or visiting carer can offer support to both the patient and their family, taking on any responsibilities you may not have time for.

Respite care is an excellent option for family carers who need to give themselves a temporary break for self-care or other responsibilities. Alternatively, live-in cancer care offers more extensive support, including round-the-clock assistance.

Remember, family carers don’t need to shoulder the burden alone. Enlisting the help of a professional carer makes sure your loved one remains cared for and looked after while you take a well-earned break.

How Country Cousins can help

Living with cancer can make it harder for the person affected to complete day-to-day activities, including cooking, bathing and getting dressed. This often puts pressure on family carers who believe that they have to pick up all the slack. At Country Cousins, we’re committed to helping cancer patients and their families remain comfortable and confident throughout whatever comes next.

Here’s how we can support you and your loved one through their cancer diagnosis:

• Professional and personal companionship to help people who can no longer complete their daily errands.
• Support with day-to-day activities, including hobbies, household chores and cooking.
• Gentle encouragement to keep mobile and on their feet whenever possible.
• Flexible live-in care with an assigned carer to foster long-term friendships between client and carer.
• Round-the-clock care for patients who need help both at night and in the daytime, always protecting their dignity and confidence.

With over 60 years of experience, we’ve seen just how important professional and exemplary care is for cancer patients. Give yourself a break to be the best support system for your loved one by getting in touch with Country Cousins today.

Talk to our team today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.