Takeaway
Family and friends caring for people with chronic illness often shoulder immense burdens without adequate support. Clinicians can help by expressing gratitude and/or acknowledging some of the challenges they face.
Creative Arts in Medicine | July 31, 2024 | <1 min read
By Lingsheng Li, MD, MHS, University of California, San Franscisco
This digital illustration represents a snapshot of a day in the life of a caregiver. I’m a geriatrician, palliative care physician, and researcher with a strong interest in improving the way in which clinicians provide care for older adults and their caregivers. Too often, we rely on caregivers to “step forward and step up” for older adults with chronic and serious illnesses. Yet, many caregivers don’t have adequate hands-on, financial, or emotional support that they need for their loved ones and for themselves. I hope all clinicians take the time to better understand the individual needs of caregivers, ask about their daily responsibilities, and acknowledge and address some of the challenges they face daily.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.