Taking care of yourself or a loved one who has cancer can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re struggling with fatigue, pain, nausea or vomiting, or other unpleasant symptoms. When managing this condition becomes too much to handle, professional home health care can provide the kind of support and assistance you need. VNSNY’s highly skilled and trained professionals often work together as a team and provide a broad array of services.

Our professionals

• Registered nurses who work closely with your doctor to manage at-home care. During a visit to your home, a nurse will evaluate your needs as they relate to the type of cancer you have and develop a personalized plan of care for taking your medications, monitoring their effects, and managing side effects or complications, as well as managing stress and your lifestyle; afterwards, the nurse will coordinate the delivery of services and revise your plan as necessary.
• Certified home health aides who can provide personal care (such as bathing or dressing), check vital signs (like body temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates), measure your cholesterol and blood sugar, and help you keep track of your symptoms. They can also shop for and prepare healthy meals that may be prescribed by a doctor, as well as assist with laundry and household chores so that you can get the rest you need.
• Home attendants (a.k.a., personal care workers) who can help with basic activities of daily living—bathing, dressing, grooming, making yourself more comfortable at home, walking, eating, shopping, paying bills, doing laundry, changing the bedding, and taking you to medical appointments.
• Licensed social workers who can assess your physical, emotional, environmental, and social needs and offer strategies and resources for support. (Keep in mind: Depression and anxiety are common among people with cancer, and feeling down or anxious can make it harder to follow your treatment plan.) Social workers can also step in and offer assistance if family relationships become strained from caring for a loved one with cancer.
• Registered dietitians who will evaluate your nutritional and hydration needs and develop a meal plan that ensures you get enough of the essential nutrients and fluids you need. 

The best way to make at-home care successful: Prepare for it in advance by making a list of responsibilities and chores you’d like the caregiver to take on, so you can be sure you’ll receive the help you need and won’t forget anything that’s important to you. It's also wise to map out a schedule for meals, medications, sleep, exercise, and other activities, and to compile a list of emergency phone numbers for doctors, as well as friends and family members who can help in a pinch. This way, everyone will have the same information and the same expectations.