Tapes educate those who can’t get away

When a caregiver can’t leave a patient long enough to attend a class, he or she now has the option of listening to an audiotape that provides information on how to survive as a caregiver. Caring for the Caregiver teaches caregivers to take care of their own needs so they can provide the very best care for their loved ones. The tapes use examples from caregivers to teach problem-solving skills.

"The point of the audiotape was to provide caregivers with something they could do at home or in the car while they are transporting the cancerpatient to treatment," says Carol Marcusen, LCSW, BCD, director of social services and patient education at USC-Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital in Los Angeles.

The tape is one in a series called the Cancer Survival Toolbox created by the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship in Silver Spring, MD, the National Association of Oncology Social Work in Baltimore, and the Pittsburgh-based Oncology Nursing Society. The audiotapes were created with grant money. The tapes are free and can be obtained by calling (877) TOOLS4U or (877) 866-5748.