A transplant is not possible without the support of one or more caregivers. A caregiver needs to be with a BMT patient 24 hours per day, 7 days per week during certain times of the transplant process. The time commitment for a caregiver can range from two weeks to three months or more depending on the type of transplant you receive and any complications that may occur. Your coordinator will discuss your specific caregiver requirements.
Caregiver duties may include assisting with medications, medical care, transportation to and from the clinic, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions and handling emergent situations. We rely on caregivers to relay information about the patient’s physical and emotional well-being.
In addition, caregivers are often responsible for ensuring that changes in the patient’s medications or treatment plan are carried out at home. If you are considering a transplant, you will need to identify who may serve in the role of caregiver for you during your transplant. Sometimes it is one individual, but several people are responsible for providing 24-hour care.
Caregiver support
The transplant process can be very difficult for not only the patient but the caregiver as well. Caregivers and family members may experience many of the stresses and feelings patients experience. Additionally, the transplant process places stress on family and marital relationships. Often, when patients are not feeling well, they are more irritable, and they can direct that irritability to family members who are their support. Being the “punching bag” can be difficult when you are already picking up extra duties due to the patient’s illness. It is important for family members to seek support for themselves going through this process.
The patient and staff rely on caregivers to stay healthy. It is important, as a caregiver, to take care of yourself through the transplant process. This may mean scheduling a break for yourself when the patient is in the inpatient unit or during outpatient appointments, even if it is just for an hour. Having more than one caregiver is helpful so longer breaks can be arranged. Even if it is not possible to have more than one caregiver, it can help to have friends or family assist with daily tasks such as meals, house cleaning, childcare, laundry, transportation, or fielding phone calls. All of these duties take energy, and your energy will be limited, so take advantage of offers for help.