Mesothelioma is a rare but devastating cancer, and it’s not a coincidence that seniors are often the ones living with it. In the U.S., the majority of mesothelioma diagnoses happen in people over 65. It typically develops decades after asbestos exposure, which was the case in the 70s and 80s, and for many families, mesothelioma lawsuit settlements can provide crucial financial relief to cover treatment costs and secure their future.
When you learn that your parent or loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it releases a weight that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. You suddenly realize you are going to become a counselor, scheduler, cook, and advocate all rolled into one. No one prepares you for this kind of caregiving, which is like a full-time job. This article will serve as a guidebook when you find yourself suddenly thrust into caregiving roles.
1. Get Educated and Stay Informed
To be able to help effectively and efficiently, you need to understand what you are dealing with. Mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs, which causes breathlessness, fatigue, and coughing. There may also be chest pain, and these worsen over time.
Knowing what to expect helps you plan around the needs of the senior. For instance, you can make more soft foods when swallowing becomes hard or install a stairlift if breathing becomes challenging. Work hand-in-hand with your healthcare provider to better anticipate needs.
2. Don’t Carry the Financial Burden Alone
Most people don’t know this until it’s too late: there are asbestos trust funds set up specifically for victims of asbestos exposure. These are not lawsuits in the traditional sense. They are rather compensation funds established by companies that exposed workers to asbestos decades ago, many of which filed for bankruptcy.
If your loved one was a mechanic, shipbuilder, factory worker, or even a Navy veteran, there’s a high chance they were exposed. Filing for trust fund compensation can offset medical costs, in-home care, and assisted living, without draining your family’s savings. You can explore this option early and see if you have valid mesothelioma claims.
3. Create a Care Structure
Caregiver burnout is real. Many mesothelioma patients often need round-the-clock support. As much as you would want to do everything, caregiver well-being and health matter as well. To bring needed balance to your care routine, whether you help at home or support them in a senior living community, you should have a care structure.
Start by dividing responsibilities. Assign tasks, days, or expenses to different members of the family. You can rotate visits if your senior loved one is in a care home. Obtain help by looking into respite care services, visiting nurses, or palliative care teams. Joining a support group specifically for mesothelioma caregivers. They will offer you emotional support and tips.
4. Balance Compassion with Dignity
Providing a choice is the best way to help without making your loved one feel helpless. Involve your senior loved one in decision-making. What they eat, when they rest, or even how they can manage their medications should be made open to them. Learn to listen without fixing. Acknowledge their grief, and offer small comforts. When you do this, you do not just manage their symptoms; you help them feel human while they face one of the hardest diagnoses.
Endnote
Mesothelioma is one disease where you can easily feel outmatched. While support is essential, it doesn’t have all the answers. However, you can show up, learn, advocate, and love them through the hard days. Your loved one may be the one with the disease, but you are in it as well. If you balance medical understanding with emotional care and financial planning with compassion, you are doing enough.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay