Guidance for caregivers navigating responsibilities, challenges, and self-care.

Overview: Caregiving is more than logistics—it’s emotional, physical, and mental support.

Defining what it means to be a caregiver
Common responsibilities (advocacy, daily support, logistics)
Challenges: exhaustion, role changes, and isolation

Understanding the Caregiver Role

Caring for someone with pancreatic cancer is one of the most important—and often most difficult—roles you may ever take on. Caregivers are more than helpers; they are advocates, organizers, and companions on one of life’s hardest journeys. At Sky Foundation, we know this intimately—our board, committees, and communities are filled with survivors, caregivers, and families who have walked this path before. You are not alone.

What It Means to Be a Caregiver

A caregiver can be a spouse, partner, parent, child, sibling, or friend who provides physical, emotional, or logistical support. Every caregiving journey looks different, but common responsibilities include:

Medical support: Attending appointments, tracking symptoms, and helping with medications.
Advocacy: Asking questions and ensuring your loved one’s voice is heard.
Daily care: Assisting with meals, mobility, and household needs.
Emotional presence: Offering encouragement and comfort during hard moments.
Logistics: Coordinating schedules, insurance, and communication with family members.

Balancing Advocacy & Self-Care

Many caregivers focus so much on their loved one that they forget about themselves. But maintaining your own health is essential for long-term caregiving.

Prepare questions for doctors: Your advocacy ensures clear communication.
Set boundaries: It’s okay to ask others to share responsibilities.
Prioritize rest and nutrition: Small acts of self-care build resilience.
Accept help: Let friends cook a meal, run errands, or provide respite care.

Sky Foundation offers caregiver committees where you can connect with people who’ve managed the same balance—strong advocates who also learned the importance of self-care.

Common Challenges Caregivers Face

It’s normal to experience stress, fatigue, and changing family dynamics as a caregiver. Acknowledging these challenges is the first step to overcoming them.

Physical strain: Lifting, long hospital visits, and irregular sleep.
Emotional stress: Anxiety, sadness, or guilt when you can’t “do it all.”
Changing roles: A spouse becomes a full-time caregiver, or a child takes on adult responsibilities.
Isolation: Friends and extended family may not fully understand your experience.

Sky Foundation’s survivor- and caregiver-led communities provide a space where these challenges are understood and shared.

Coping Strategies for Caregivers

Practical steps can make the caregiving journey more sustainable:

Create structure: Use calendars and to-do lists to reduce mental load.
Build a support system: Identify friends, relatives, or professionals who can step in when needed.
Stay connected: Join caregiver support groups to reduce feelings of isolation.
Seek counseling when needed: Professional help can provide tools for stress, grief, and resilience.

Building Strength Through Community

No caregiver should have to walk this journey alone. At Sky Foundation, our community is filled with compassionate advocates who have walked a similar path. Many find healing and purpose by serving on our Boards, Committees, or through volunteer opportunities—supporting families who are now facing what they once experienced.

Our Sky Support Circle includes pancreatic cancer survivors and dedicated advocates who offer encouragement, understanding, and guidance along the way.

If you’d like to be connected with a Sky Advocate, reach out to Annie Dalton, Sky’s Executive Director. She will personally connect you with someone whose experience closely aligns with yours.

📧 Annie@SkyFoundationInc.org
📞 248-385-5143

Legacy of Care

Caregiving leaves an impact far beyond the immediate journey. Sky Foundation’s Legacy Giving program offers a way to honor your caregiving role by supporting research, survivor-led programs, and caregiver resources through your will or estate. You can even choose the specific projects or initiatives you want to support, ensuring your love and care continue to shape the future of pancreatic cancer support.

Key Takeaway

Being a caregiver for someone with pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest jobs, but also one of the most meaningful. By balancing advocacy with self-care, acknowledging challenges, and connecting with supportive communities, you can walk this path with strength. Sky Foundation stands with you, offering survivor-led leadership, caregiver committees, and Legacy Giving opportunities to ensure your caregiving journey creates a lasting impact.