Guide for Mesothelioma Caregivers: Support, Resources, and Legal Assistance

When your loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, spouses, children, other family members, and even close friends step in to provide necessary care and support. As caregivers, you dedicate yourselves to helping your loved one throughout the mesothelioma journey. Naturally, you become passionate in your desire for the best care, resources, and support systems available.

The role of mesothelioma caregivers involves providing both physical and emotional support to the patient. This is in addition to adjusting your own lives in order to provide that support. At times, this can seem daunting.

We aim to offer the mesothelioma caregiver facts about getting support. We also provide information regarding the available legal options for people diagnosed with mesothelioma, their families, and caregivers.

The Role of a Mesothelioma Caregiver

The responsibilities of mesothelioma caregivers vary. You may find yourself wearing many different hats, and every day is different. Some of the roles you fill may include: ⁽¹⁾

1. Managing medical care. This involves scheduling and confirming appointments. It also entails attending each appointment with your loved one, so you can act as their advocate.
2. Home care. This usually includes administering medications, picking up and refilling prescriptions. Other tasks are assisting with bathing, dressing, and toileting.
3. Housekeeping. Light housework, such as dusting and vacuuming, may be needed. Additional daily tasks include washing dishes, emptying trash, doing laundry, and watering plants.
4. Transportation. Chauffeuring the patient is often part of a caregiver’s duties. This includes medical appointments, social and family events, work or school, and religious services.
5. Meals. Providing meals involves grocery shopping, cooking, and even feeding your loved ones if they are unable to feed themselves. Caregivers want to stay current on nutrition guidelines and any individual dietary requirements.
6. Pet care. If your loved one has pets, you are called upon to feed, water, and exercise these companions. You also need to handle vet visits. Additionally, you should have pet sitters lined up in case of emergencies or trips.
7. Exercise. Even when your loved one’s physical abilities are limited, their care plan may involve regular exercise. You might be responsible for helping them perform this exercise or arrange for someone else to help.
8. Calendar. Caregivers often help their loved ones to organize, schedule, and manage events, work or school tasks, and appointments.
9. Errands. Running errands is an important part of the job. You need to do shopping, post office and bank runs, and maybe even library visits. Daily errands can be very time-consuming.
10. Financial assistance. Caregivers may take over payment of bills, managing funds, and dealing with taxes for their loved ones. Sometimes caretakers must contribute funds out of your own money, another burden on you.
11. Accepting help. This is one of the most challenging things for a caregiver to do. Although you may try, caregivers cannot do it all. There are times when you need to reach out to others for additional support.

In some situations, caregiving tasks are divided between several caregivers. This is one way to spread the burden over many people, rather than having it pile up on one person.

For example, a spouse handles home care, while adult children take on housekeeping and pet care. An extended family member takes on transportation responsibilities.

Yet, these are only the obvious tasks. Less obvious is addressing the emotional and psychological toll of the disease on both the patient and caregivers alike.

The Hidden Burden of Caregiving

An “informal caregiver” is a person who is not professionally trained and is not paid to provide care, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Most caregivers fit this description since you are spouses, children, relatives, and friends of the patient. You not only bear the visible burden of providing for the physical needs of your loved one, but the hidden burden of emotional and psychological needs, as well. ⁽²⁾

As an informal caregiver, you have your own unique needs. Your needs include information regarding basic questions about treatments and side effects. You need practical tips on providing care. You also have emotional, social, and financial needs that must be met. ⁽³⁾

Caregivers Suffer Heavy Burden

One study of mesothelioma caregivers notes, “Caregivers provided over five hours of daily emotional/physical support to patients.” It goes on to say that the burden of caretaking tasks, “impact caregivers’ emotional health and work.” ⁽⁴⁾

Researchers found that 74% of caregivers were at risk of depression. Employed caregivers missed 12% of work in a seven-day period and researchers observed work impairment in 33% of cases. ⁽⁵⁾

You may find your role as a caregiver creates constant strain and stress in your life. You may begin to experience negative effects like: ⁽⁶⁾

• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Decline in quality of life.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

As an example of the toll caregiving can take on a caregiver, read the story of one of our own clients. His brother provided care for their dying mother.

“Anthony was so focused on making sure Mom was comfortable, on making sure she got all her medicines exactly when she was supposed to take them… . It got to the point where he would barely sleep because he was so afraid that something would happen to Mom in the middle of the night.”

If you experience any negative effects — physical or emotional — it may be time to seek professional help. It is extremely important that you, as a caregiver, also practice good self-care.

Tips to Help Caregivers

Caregivers can become overly stressed and even experience symptoms of burnout. Caregiver stress includes experiencing feelings of helplessness, worry, burden, anger, depression or sadness, and being alone and feeling isolated. ⁽⁷⁾

These feelings can be made worse by financial strain, fatigue or lack of sleep, weakened coping and problem-solving skills, increased alcohol or drug use, weight fluctuation, and emerging or worsening health issues. ⁽⁸⁾

Yet, there are practical steps caregivers can take to manage stress, avoid burnout, and access trusted mesothelioma caregiver support when you need it most. These include: ⁽⁹⁾

1. Ask for and accept help. Make a list of tasks other people can do. Then assign them to someone who agrees to help.
2. Focus on what you can do. This might include scheduling breaks or exercise, like taking walks. Remind yourself you are doing the best you can.
3. Establish a daily routine. Prioritize tasks, then break those tasks into small steps to be done one at a time.
4. Be resourceful. Make use of the services and resources available in your area. For example, delivery and ride services, support groups, and even classes are all helpful.
5. Stay connected. Reach out to family and friends. Make time to see people at least once a week. For example, taking a walk together or meeting up for coffee are good ways of connecting.
6. Take care of your own health needs. Keep up with doctor visits, maintain a healthy diet, drink lots of water, exercise regularly, and get adequate sleep.
7. Talk with your doctors. Discuss any issues you are having and let them know you are a caregiver.

Resources to Support Mesothelioma Caregivers

Reaching out for help and support is never easy, but there are options. Many nonprofit organizations exist for that purpose, and their services are usually free.

One such organization is the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA). The FCA’s goal has been to improve the quality of life for family caregivers and the recipients of their care. They offer information and tips on topics such as: ⁽¹⁰⁾

• Assessment.
• Care planning.
• Wellness programs.
• Respite services.
• Self-care.
• Direct care skills — through articles, webinars, and online videos.

Other nonprofit organizations catering to the needs of caregivers include:

• Cancer Support Network Foundation.
• Cancer Support Community.
• American Cancer Society.

These organizations offer a variety of services including: ^{(11) (12) (13)}

• Information on treatments and side effects.
• Help with questions on insurance.
• Discussion forums.
• Rides to and from treatment.
• Clinical trials matching.
• 24/7 helplines.
• Assistance with lodging for treatments.
• Navigation support for dealing with complex systems.

There may also be other caregiver support groups and organizations operating locally. Check with your medical providers and online.

Legal and Financial Help for Caregivers

Mesothelioma is a life-changing diagnosis. Treatments for the disease are expensive and debilitating.

Once diagnosed, mesothelioma cancer patients and families often seek financial compensation through lawsuits. Monetary compensation can help defray the costs of medical care, ensure financial stability, and provide for the future. Get more information on filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Contacting a law firm as soon as possible after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis can ease your loved one’s burden. Mesothelioma attorneys guide clients through the legal process. They can help your loved one recently diagnosed with mesothelioma file necessary paperwork with employers, insurance providers, and even any appropriate asbestos trust funds.

Government Programs May Help Caregivers

Many caregivers are family members and are still working. Caring for your loved one can be a full-time job in itself. A federal law, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), may apply to your situation. ⁽¹⁴⁾

FMLA provides for family members to take job-protected, unpaid leave to care for their loved ones. This law provides the continuation of group health insurance coverage during leave. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Your attorney can help answer questions regarding your eligibility for FMLA.

Family caregivers of veterans may be eligible for benefits through the Veterans Administration (VA). Some of these benefits include: ⁽¹⁶⁾

• Caregiver education and training.
• Mental health counseling.
• Travel benefits when traveling for medical care.
• Monthly financial stipend.
• Access to healthcare benefits through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
• Free legal and financial advice related to the needs of the veteran.
• Access to military commissaries, exchanges, and recreation retail facilities.

An experienced mesothelioma attorney, like the lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg, can assist you with understanding any legal and financial options available to caregivers.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a caregiver, you probably have lots of questions about starting a legal case to get the compensation your loved one deserves. Here are some answers to questions many caregivers ask:

How Soon Should We Reach Out to a Lawyer?

The sooner you reach out, the better. Don’t wait until your loved one dies from the disease. It is best to act quickly while your loved one can recall the details of their exposure. It helps your legal case if they can offer detailed information about their exposure and the products they came in contact with that contained asbestos. They can also identify co-workers and friends who can confirm their story.

What Happens to the Case If They Pass Away?

Your loved one’s lawsuit would be a personal injury lawsuit. If your loved one files a suit with us and then passes away before the lawsuit is resolved, the lawsuit would be amended to add a claim for wrongful death.

What Does the Legal Process Involve?

The typical steps to a lawsuit involve preparation, filing, responses, discovery, and then settlement or trial. Learn more about mesothelioma lawsuit steps.

Can I Start the Case on Their Behalf?

Caregivers, by themselves, generally cannot initiate a lawsuit on behalf of the person suffering from mesothelioma. You can help the person who is eligible to file a lawsuit. However, if your loved one initiates the lawsuit and then dies, a caregiver can continue that lawsuit on their behalf.

Is it Too Late If the Exposure Happened Decades Ago?

No. It can be years before any mesothelioma symptoms appear. They can appear 15 – 40 years after exposure, in fact. ⁽¹⁷⁾ People who suffer from mesothelioma often do not even realize they were exposed until symptoms appear. In most cases, once diagnosed — even decades after exposure — they still can file a lawsuit.

Is There Any Upfront Cost to Hire a Lawyer?

No, there is normally no upfront cost to hiring a lawyer to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. Most mesothelioma attorneys, like Weitz & Luxenberg, work on a contingency basis. This means we are paid when we resolve your case. Our fee is a percentage of your negotiated settlement or trial verdict. If we don’t get money for you, you owe us nothing.

When You Are Ready, Weitz & Luxenberg Is Here to Help

Mesothelioma caregivers experience stress and strain at nearly every turn in your efforts to provide the best care possible for your loved ones. The good news is that you are not alone.

Nonprofit and government programs are available, offering resources and support. The most important step caregivers can take is not to try to do it all. You should reach out and accept help. Doing so allows caregivers to begin to practice good self-care.

No two situations are alike. Families and caregivers face different challenges. The need for compassionate, qualified legal guidance is at the top of the list of priorities.

This is why it is so important to reach out to a leader in the field of mesothelioma litigation, such as Weitz & Luxenberg, as early as possible. W&L attorneys are empathetic, capable, and experienced mesothelioma litigators who truly care about our clients.

W&L Wins Mesothelioma Lawsuits for Clients

Our attorneys have a long and proud history of favorable outcomes for our mesothelioma clients. We have handled tens of thousands of asbestos cases, securing $13 billion through verdicts and settlements.

We provide legal guidance and well-deserved support. We recognize what you need during one of the most difficult, confusing, and emotional times our clients, their families, and caregivers ever need to face.

If you are a mesothelioma caregiver, encourage your loved one to reach out to us today. The initial consultation is at no charge. In this consultation, our attorneys discuss your loved one’s specific case and situation.

We can help you and your loved one understand their legal options, and then guide your loved one through the legal process. Once your loved one becomes our client, you may find your stress and burden somewhat relieved. Because once we are on the job, you can trust that the case is in good hands.

Call us at (917) LAWYERS or fill out the form on this page. One of our lawyers can contact you promptly. We are eager to take on the challenges your loved one’s case presents and help your family members get the maximum compensation they deserve.