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“Island Hospice is a charitable organisation which provides care to those suffering from life-threatening illnesses and the bereaved.”

Special Correspondent

Across our 35 years of experience in the field, we have gathered together some principles regarding caring for the ill that we have found to be helpful to caregivers in the home. At Island Hospice and Healthcare (Island), we call those who care for the ill at home and in the community ‘caregivers’.

At Island Hospice we understand that caring for someone who is ill is a serious, demanding job, not to be taken lightly, but with great care and consideration.

It is a great responsibility but it also offers huge satisfaction and rewards. It is a privilege as well as an opportunity for personal growth.

What we find most valuable for caregivers is the understanding that the caregiver needs to be just as intentional about caring for themselves as they are about caring for others.

It is important to realise that although disease and its symptoms happen to the patient, illness has an effect on the whole family. Caring for a patient suffering from a life threatening illness at home can be rewarding, however it is physically and emotionally draining for both the caregiver and the family.

A critical issue that often affects caregivers is the feelings of helplessness or hopelessness associated with caring for someone they love in the most difficult season of their lives.

People facing terminal diagnosis may make you feel helpless, angry or useless. A person suffering from HIV/AIDS may remind you of your own losses, or make you afraid that this may happen to you.

Our counsel to carers is that they need to:

◆ accept and express their feelings

◆ pay attention to their own personal issues as they arise and not delay intervention

◆ accept feedback or constructive criticism from others

◆ know that there may be times when you cannot help

◆ cope with strong feelings from the patient without feeling useless or taking it personally.

Dealing with people who are facing death as a result of their illness, will make you aware of the fact that one day you, too, will die.

It is very important that you understand and recognise your own feelings about death and dying because if you do not, then your feelings of fear and anxiety will prevent you from providing care well.

As well as helping others, you need to be able to ask for help and support for yourself – someone to listen to your fears and sadness. It is important that you examine your own feelings about the illness of the person you are caring for.

If it is a disease such as AIDS then you need to look at your own attitudes about people who have AIDS. If you have prejudices about people with AIDS (PWAs) then you will judge them in a negative way and this may affect the quality of the care the patient will receive.

◆ If you would like to know more or have any questions regarding the issues discussed in this article, please contact us at [email protected]