Collaborating with Caregivers to Improve Lymphedema Care

by Mary K Kearse, PT, CLT-LANA and Elizabeth McMahon, PhD

An estimated 3-5 million people are presently afflicted with lymphedema in the United States. More caregivers are needed to provide lymphedema care at home and in the community. The need for caregivers is projected to increase in the near future due to several demographic factors, such as the aging populace, increasing rates of obesity, and higher rates of cancer survivorship.

Patients and healthcare professionals alike will benefit from effective collaboration with caregivers. Beneficial results include increased adherence to home care regimens, improved therapeutic outcomes, and faster response times to lymphedema-related emergencies.

The need for informed caregivers to provide lymphedema home care will become increasingly important as the incidence of lymphedema rises. Moreover, skillful collaboration and education by healthcare professionals can mazimize caregiver effectiveness and help promote successful long-term management of this condition.

The Lymphedema Caregiver's Guide (to be published in late 2008) will help achieve these goals by offering practical advice on physical and emotional care, guidelines on record-keeping to increase adherence with home care recommendations, assistance on finding and hiring caregivers, and other essential topics.

Collaborating with Caregivers to Improve Lymphedema Care

by Mary K Kearse, PT, CLT-LANA and Elizabeth McMahon, PhD