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Caregivers Like Me (Cuidadores Como Yo)

Stress is often undetected among Latino family caregivers of people with serious illness. Caregivers are frequently under stress to provide all the care with little or no outside help. However, the early involvement of healthcare workers may provide further help. In this way, caregivers can keep their loved one at home and avoid nursing home stay.

Upon completion of this video, you will be able to:

  • Understand the effect of culture on end-of-life care decisions.
  • Identify when additional help in care is needed because of caregiver stress.

Key Points

  • End-of-life care is provided through palliative and hospice care.
  • Palliative care begins at the start of a serious illness and is given alongside treatments designed to combat the disease.
  • Hospice care is a type of palliative care for people in the final months of life. It is considered when the person's condition deteriorates and active treatment does not control disease.
  • Caregiver stress happens due to the demands a person has while caring for their loved one. This can affect the caregiver's mood and sleeping, leading to poor health.
  • Early involvement of health care workers while caring for a loved one with serious illness provides better quality of life.

Algo Le Pasa a Mi Heroe

As a supplement to the Caregivers Like Me videos, you may wish to review Algo Le Pasa a Mi Viejo, a music video by Victor Manuelle dedicated to caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients.

Credits/Acknowledgements

  • Dulce M, Cruz-Oliver, M.D., Writer
  • Bo Wich, Director
  • Rick Carrillo, Producer 
  • Robb Long, Camera 
  • Miguel Cantu, Grip
  • Hector Hernandėz, Grip
  • Allen Green, Audio
  • Kiran Panjwani, Makeup

Special Thanks

  • Deborah Villarreal, M.D.
  • Sandra Sanchez-Reilly, M.D.
  • Miriam Rodin, M.D.
  • Nina Tumosa, Ph.D.
  • Kathy Leonard
  • Story Track Studios St. Louis

This video was made possible by funding from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Geriatric Academic Career Award of Doctors Deborah Villarreal, M,D, and Dulce M. Cruz-Oliver, M,D.

Copyright 2013, Dulce M. Cruz-Oliver, M.D.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduced with permission of the author. Reproduction and distribution of the “Caregivers Like Me” video module is strictly prohibited. “Caregivers Like Me” is an educational resource and not a substitute for clinical assessment or treatment. Reliance on any video content is solely at the viewer's risk and Saint Louis University bears no responsibility to the viewer for the video content or its use.