Caregiving for Someone With Shingles

The type and amount of supportive care a loved one with shingles will need can vary from one person to another.

Depending on the severity of symptoms, your loved one might need help with a range of tasks, including following their treatment plan, managing symptoms, reducing stress, and seeking social support.

Medical Support 

Depending on the situation and severity of the condition, caregiving may start even before your loved one is diagnosed with shingles and may continue long after the rash disappears.

Doctors Visits and Medications 

Shingles medications work best when started early, so prompt treatment can affect how severe the symptoms are and how long they last.

Once shingles has been diagnosed and a treatment plan established, your loved one might need assistance in picking up prescriptions and keeping track of medication doses.

Things to keep in mind:

• Some antivirals used to treat shingles can require multiple doses a day (in some cases up to three to five).
• Some prescription painkillers must be monitored closely to prevent overdose or physical dependence—all of which can be tough to juggle when you’re in a lot of pain or experiencing fatigue.

Organizing prescriptions and reminding your loved one to take the right medication at the right time and at the right dosage can be one of the most important roles you have as a caregiver.  

If your loved one has concerns about their signs or symptoms, medication side effects, or treatment plan, you can also encourage or help them direct those questions to their doctor.

Symptom Management 

In addition to medication management, helping to alleviate symptoms caused by shingles—itching, pain, or sensitivity, for example—can be an important job for caregivers.

You can help ease itchiness by preparing colloidal oatmeal baths or gently spreading calamine lotion on the affected area. Sometimes cold compresses (made from cloths held under cool water) or over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or Tylenol can help soothe the pain.

Infection Control 

While you can’t catch shingles, a person with it can spread the virus that causes it, known as varicella-zoster, to others.

Another important issue is that secondary skin infections (usually bacterial) can happen if sores become contaminated.

Some steps you can take as a caregiver to reduce the risk of spreading or acquiring infections include:

• Cleaning the rash or blisters and covering them with a dry, non-stick bandage
• Washing your hands frequently
• Laundering any clothing or linens that touch your loved one’s rash in hot water
• Discarding used bandages safely and immediately

Scratching the rash can also risk spreading the virus and/or opening up the skin to a new infection—which is why it’s so important to keep the area covered and to soothe discomfort and itchiness.

Stress Relief 

Stress and pain are connected—when one increases, so does the other. Breaking this cycle can help make your loved one more comfortable during their shingles recovery.

The things that work to lower stress levels might vary from person to person, but there are a number of things that you can do to help. 

• Turn on calming music during the day to help provide a relaxing atmosphere.
• Invite them to go for a walk or lead them in some light exercise like yoga.
• Educate yourself on meditation techniques, and walk your loved one through the process.
• Encourage napping when energy levels appear to be getting low.
• Engage in an activity or hobby that your loved one enjoys, such as crafting or building things, playing board games, watching TV shows, or reading aloud.

Personal Assistance 

People with shingles might not be able to handle daily tasks while recovering. In this case, helping with chores or managing paperwork can help them focus on getting better.

Some ways you can help with these personal tasks:

• Go grocery shopping and do other outside errands so that your loved one can stay home and rest.
• Prepare healthy, well-balanced meals that can be eaten right away or stored in the fridge or freezer for easy reheating.
• Lend a hand around the house by straightening up, doing dishes, and disinfecting surfaces.
• Help with bathing, dressing, or personal grooming if the pain is too great for the individual to do it themselves.
• Juggle paperwork, such as sorting mail, paying bills, conducting correspondence, or (if necessary) assist in completing and submitting any paperwork needed by your loved one’s insurance company or employer.

Social Support 

Social interactions can impact your quality of life. Maintaining a strong social support system while recovering from shingles can be a part of the healing process, and you as a caregiver can play an important role.

• Invite your loved one to talk about what they’re going through and how you can best support them physically and emotionally.
• If your loved one is up for company, arrange for visits by family or friends. Monitor the situation, and if it gets to be too overwhelming or your loved one appears to get fatigued during the visit, take charge by kindly asking the guests to leave.
• Encourage them to engage with an online support group for those with shingles, though be careful to remind them to direct any medical questions to their doctor.