4 THE QUEENS COURIER • QUEENS TOP DOCTORS • JANUARY 25, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
queens top doctors
Useful tips to help caregivers navigate the cost of care
When a patient receives bad medical
news, it can be a paralyzing moment. It’s
easy to see how any serious diagnosis can
shatter someone’s life into a million pieces,
but we oft en overlook what’s happening
to the caregiver who’s devoting their
time and energy to provide care. On top of
the physical and emotional demands, the
fi nancial cost of caregiving is unavoidable.
What makes someone a caregiver?
American caregivers support patients in
a variety of ways. Th ey can be young or
old, live close by or miles away and provide
care full time or part time. Many of us
are caregivers - for our children, parents,
siblings or even close friends. Maybe you
are a caregiver who provides “hands-on”
care now, but may be called upon to provide
fi nancial assistance in the future. It’s
crucial for caregivers to make wise fi nancial
decisions about caregiving - for their
loved ones and just as importantly, for
themselves.
At 34 years old, Danielle Fontanesi had
to give up her job as a full-time attorney
so she could care for her husband, Matt.
Matt was fi ghting acute myeloid leukemia
and needed around-the-clock care
while recovering from a stem cell transplant.
Fontanesi wasn’t able to go back
to work for more than a year, and found
it challenging to fi nd a new job given her
employment gap, which cost her more
than $175,000 in lost income. Th e cost
of relocating next to a major cancer center
where Matt was treated was also substantial.
“Not only did I lose income, I lost a year
of career progression,” says Fontanesi.
“We still had to pay our rent, car payments
and hospital expenses, while not having
income during this period.”
According to Gwen Nichols, MD,
Chief Medical Offi cer of Th e Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society(R) (LLS), Fontanesi is
far from alone in her fi nancial plight.
“Again and again, we fi nd that caregivers
make huge fi nancial sacrifi ces to care
for their loved one,” Nichols says. “When
you tally up the losses, it’s quite astounding:
loss of wages, loss of health insurance,
loss of retirement savings and the list goes
on. Th ese hold serious fi nancial consequences
for caregivers.”
Over time, the economic burdens of
long-term medical care can create added
distress for patients and caregivers that is
oft en called “fi nancial toxicity.” Financial
toxicity occurs when growing out-ofpocket
healthcare costs lead to serious
fi nancial problems. Out-of-pocket costs
can include anything from hospital stays
or outpatient services to medical equipment
and medications.
To help caregivers navigate the cost of
cancer care for themselves and their loved
ones, Nichols off ers these important tips:
Encourage your loved one to seek a second
opinion: When appropriate, caregivers
should help their loved one seek
a second opinion. A second opinion can
help ensure an accurate diagnosis, which
can then guide your loved one’s treatment
plan. An accurate diagnosis enables
resources to be directed in a way that off ers
your loved one the greatest potential benefi
ts, both in terms of a better health outcome
as well as fi nancial impact. When
weighing multiple treatment options or
in circumstances of uncertainty, it’s also
helpful to gain a second opinion to help
inform the best course of care and avoid
the detrimental health eff ects and costliness
of incorrect or unnecessary treatments.
Help start a dialogue: It’s crucial to have
an open conversation with healthcare providers
about fi nancial pressures. You and
your loved one should partner with their
medical provider to understand the cost of
certain services and treatments. Th is information
can help empower you and your
loved one to make the right decision for
you and your family. For example, your
loved one may be able to choose among
treatments or select providers or treatment
centers that off er the same or even greater
potential benefi t, but at a lower cost.
Be an advocate for change: Your voice
as a caregiver is valuable, and can help
shape discussions about the cost of care.
Whether you act as an individual or part
of an organized eff ort by a patient advocacy
organization, you can make an impact
by sharing your story about the fi nancial
hardships you’ve experienced. Th ese
fi rsthand accounts are vital for spurring
action. To learn more about LLS Advocacy
and how you can raise awareness about
the cost of cancer care, visit www.lls.org/
be-an-advocate.
Take advantage of available resources:
Caregivers are oft en hesitant to seek
help and are oft en unaware of the many
resources available to them at their fi ngertips.
LLS has free resources and support
services such as online chats with medical
experts, support groups, help with
fi nancial pressures, referral to other helpful
local and national resources, and more.
To learn more, visit www.lls.org/support/
caregiver-support.
Nichols also notes that it’s crucial to
take time for self-care and remember that
your family is your fi rst resource, so don’t
be afraid to reach out to them for help.
Th ere are many ways for friends and family
to lighten the load in this challenging
time: assisting with home repairs, running
errands, or preparing a meal. Th ese kind
gestures go a long way when there’s fi nancial
strain. Aft er all, if you sacrifi ce your
own health and well-being, you won’t be
at your best to eff ectively care for a loved
one.
Courtesy BPT