Looking after someone close to them can bring a carer much pride and satisfaction. It may mean they get to spend more quality time with you at home and this can strengthen your relationship.
The caring role can take a mental toll. They may feel anxious, sad, depressed or even resentful about your illness and the care you need. These feelings in caregivers may also increase as the health of the person they are caring for worsens.
Carers may also experience degrees of grief and the demands on their time may leave them feeling isolated and lonely. Left untreated, these states of mind can affect their long-term health and it can take years for them to recover.
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Life, Hope & Reality was developed and written by Afaf Girgis, Claire Johnson, and Sylvie Lambert with funding from the NHMRC and Cancer Council NSW.
Last updated 30 August 2015