{"id":14920,"date":"2023-07-12T00:00:27","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T21:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kapa3.gr\/?p=14920"},"modified":"2023-07-12T00:00:27","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T21:00:27","slug":"cancer-effects-on-caregivers-and-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kapa3.gr\/en\/cancer-effects-on-caregivers-and-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer Effects on Caregivers and Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

A CANCER DIAGNOSIS RESULTS IN A LOT OF CHANGES<\/strong> for both the patient and the caregiver. <\/em><\/p>\n

For the caregiver, those changes can include adjusting work schedules, which, in turn, can affect their finances.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The unexpected expense of cancer treatments coupled with the lack of paid leave can be a one-two punch to caregivers\u2019 financial resources. \u201cFor many caregivers, keeping debt low or nonexistent may not be possible,\u201d says Cathy J. Bradley, a health economics researcher and co-author of a study<\/a> titled \u201cWorking, Low Income, and Cancer Caregiving: Financial and Mental Health Impacts,\u201d published online April 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.<\/em> \u201cThe Federal Reserve reports that many households would have difficulty absorbing $400 in unexpected costs. Cancer treatments are among the most expensive treatments in the United States.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In many instances, caregivers can take paid leave to care for their loved one, which can mitigate financial hardship, but that\u2019s not always the case.<\/strong> Often, caregivers are faced with taking unpaid leave or having to stop working altogether\u2014both of which negatively impact their finances.<\/p>\n

According to Bradley\u2019s study, 35% of cancer caregivers stopped working and 30% saw their household debt increase.<\/strong> Those in households earning less than the median household income were more likely to experience decreased income and stop work than peers in similar financial situations who were caring for people with conditions other than cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cData on reasons for stopping work was not part of this study, but we speculate that caregiving demands are greater for cancer patients,\u201d says Bradley, an associate dean of the Colorado School of Public Health and deputy director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. \u201cWe also speculate that lower-income households cannot pay for additional help so that the caregiver can continue working.\u201d<\/p>\n

A key element forcing caregivers to stop work is no paid leave at their workplace. According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), studies show that cancer patients with paid leave have higher rates of job retention and lower rates of financial burden.<\/strong> However, 48% of caregivers report experiencing problems related to financial pressure caused by not being able to work or having to reduce work hours to care for their loved one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCancer treatment is so all-consuming for the patient but also for the family and anyone who is caregiving for the patient,\u201d says Jennifer Hoque, associate policy principal on access to care for ACS CAN. \u201cAnd that includes all-consuming with finances and time. Time is money. The more time you have to spend caregiving for the cancer patient, the more potential for lost wages and other money you\u2019re spending. And it\u2019s not just time caring for the patient. It\u2019s also transportation, taking the patient to and from their treatments. Sometimes it\u2019s lodging because sometimes you have to stay overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

To help cancer caregivers, ACS CAN supports legislation providing for paid leave in the workplace so everyone has access to it and can help their family members. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act was introduced in Congress on May 17. If passed, it would provide workers with a maximum of 12 weeks of financial support during a family or medical leave from work. In addition, 11 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted paid leave laws.<\/p>\n

Finding assistance is crucial for cancer caregivers.<\/strong> \u201cCaregivers provide a tremendous service to their families and society at large with very few supports,\u201d Bradley says. \u201cAs a result, they suffer not only physical and mental consequences, but they also suffer financial consequences that last for years. Lower-income households take on the greatest financial burden and may never recover.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re caring for a cancer patient, it\u2019s important to find out what type of leave is available. For instance, the Family and Medical Leave Act currently in effect provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a one-year period. Although leave is unpaid, the law protects your job while you\u2019re away from work. Also, find out how flexible your employer is in allowing remote work or changing your work hours for doctor appointments and treatments.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other assistance may be available through local, state and national programs such as the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation, HealthWell Foundation, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Patient navigators at your loved one\u2019s hospital or cancer treatment center can also be a valuable resource in advising you about financial assistance.<\/p>\n

Cancer Effects on Caregivers and Work<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n