Caregivers4Cancer Support Services
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1.4
million people in the United States will receive a cancer diagnosis
each year. Cancer affects the entire family
unit. Some
caregivers spend 40 or more hours a week tending to their cancer
patient loved ones. Yet, no one offers training on how
to deal with being the cancer patient caregiver nor has there
been in-depth training for the medical staff who assist caregivers
through this medical maze.
Caregivers4Cancer’s mission is twofold:
- provide onsite support group meetings for cancer patient
caregivers to give them the coping skills required to support
and nurture their loved one as well as themselves
- provide interactive training sessions for healthcare professionals
to assist the caregiver during this medical maze
For the Cancer Patient Caregivers
Caregivers4Cancer develops onsite support groups to help the
cancer patient caregiver through the difficult journey of caregiving.
Caregivers4Cancer assesses what services to offer caregivers,
which could include the following topics:
- Interacting with the medical team
- Staying upbeat and motivated
- Eating healthy for yourself and for the patient
- Asking for help from family and friends
- Working through the insurance/medical circles
- Understanding the effects of chemo and radiation
- Getting financial affairs in order
It is critical we treat family and friends as ONE unit with
the patient. Medical science has done an incredible
job of extending the lives of cancer patients with newer
drugs and fewer side effects. But, there are major
financial and emotional issues facing caregivers. Hospital
stays have gotten shorter, they have limited discharge plans
and home healthcare technology suggests a do-it-yourself
ability, all of which increases the responsibilities of the
caregiver. They need more support!
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For the Oncology Medical
Teams
At the end of Caregivers4Cancer’s training sessions,
the oncology team will know efficiently and effectively how
to support the needs of the patient, while at the same time
show respect and compassion toward the caregiver so they can
become better advocates for their loved ones. According to
the Journal of Family Nursing, a startling 62 percent of caregivers
report feeling depressed or isolated. Forty-four percent of
cancer patient caregivers are men, who are often less accustomed
to nurturing and providing personal care.
This is a two-hour, upbeat, interactive session presenting
a process and structure for meeting the needs of the caregiver
and the patient. This session will enhance the effectiveness
of medical staff members who play a part in the caregivers’ and
patients’ experiences. And, securing better patient
outcomes is key for all involved. |
For Keynote Presentations
This keynote presentation is upbeat, entertaining and inspiring
through stories of Betty’s and Gene’s journey with
esophageal cancer. Even though it can be a devastating disease,
humor plays a tremendous role in relieving the stress of this
roller coaster ride. Each keynote is customized to meet the
objectives of the conference. |
Benefits to
the Healthcare Facility
The Caregivers4Cancer program provides many direct and indirect
benefits for your organization:
- Positions you as a true problem-solver among your cancer
patient's support network. This positioning increases positive
word-of-mouth in the community, and moreover, increases the
likelihood that you will be chosen by those caregivers for
their own future care when needed.
- Enhances caregiver effectiveness thereby reducing patient
and caregiver demands on your medical team.
- Generates prospective patient referrals to other practitioners
(psychotherapists, etc.) within your healthcare organization.
- Creates a positive and distinct point of difference for
your treatment programs versus your competitors' programs.
- Helps solidify your position in the community as the "caring" provider
and as the "full service" provider of treatment
services.
- Enables you to create and sustain referral relationships
with other community healthcare practitioners who treat caregivers
in need of additional support and education. These caregivers
(whose family member is not a patient of your facility) could
pay a fee to participate in your program.
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