What role should cancer centers play in family caregiving? Should they be shining examples of how to manage cancer, by providing family caregivers with the education, support, and resources that will help them keep cancer patients on the right track, or should they hang back and let families fumble through cancer care? Is a “Come What May” approach the most sensible thing?
In search of cancer programs that are taking the lead in this important endeavor, I came upon the City of Hope. This organization hosts what I think is the quintessential offering — The Family Caregiver Project. The goal of the project is to create a national education program that will strengthen the abilities and capabilities of family caregivers, as a means of improving the outcome of oncology patients. Oncology teams from across the country are participating in the effort to develop family caregiver programs.
If I told you that the March and July courses were already full, what would you take away from that? Cancer centers are getting serious about learning how to help families manage cancer and live better?
What are the classes and presentations offered? Here’s a partial list:
Improving Quality of Life and Quality of Care for Oncology
The Challenge of Quality Care for Family Caregivers in Adult Cancer Care
The Challenge of Quality Care for Family Caregivers in Pediatric Cancer Care
Physical Well Being and Family Caregivers: Family Members Providing Care and Caring for Themselves
Models of Excellence: Physical Well Being
Serving Diverse Cultures of Family Caregivers
Review of Family Caregiver Resources
Physiological Well Being and Family Caregiving
Models of Excellence: Psychological Well Being
Family Caregiving Research
Sexuality Concerns
Diverse Family Caregiver Communities
Spousal Caregiving
Distance Caregiving
Communications
Social Well Being and Family Caregiving
Models of Excellence: Social Well Being
Assessment of Psychological Symptom/Screening of Family Caregivers
Spiritual Care
Pediatric Family Caregiving
Support Group and Family Meeting
Communications
The Future of Geriatric Oncology and Implications on Family Caregivers
Spiritual Well Being and Family Caregivers: Deriving Meaning and Faith in Caregiving
Spiritual Well Being
If you are a cancer patient, you should take hope in the fact that oncology teams are recognizing that your quality of life with cancer can be improved through family education and support. If you are a family caregiver for a cancer patient, you should take hope in the fact that oncology teams are recognizing that you are an important part of the quality of life your loved one experiences. And if you work for a cancer center and there is no effort to provide programs to family caregivers, you should get moving and encourage your oncology team to join the effort.
When I look at the offerings for The Family Caregiver Project, I am struck by several things. First, the City of Hope effort understands there is a difference between providing care for an adult and a child. There is also a difference between providing care for a family member and a spouse. Relationships are complicated by the ties that bind us, and it’s important to help couples navigate that difficult terrain, in order to improve patient outcome. Second, the City of Hope effort understands that there is a need to work with patients of different cultures. If the family caregiver is an integral part of cancer management, it’s important to work with the strengths of the culture. Many societies have strong familial bonds that could and should be utilized in family caregiving. It’s important to respect beliefs and understand differences, because the big goal is to help all cancer patients manage the disease and find quality of life.
As more and more cancer patients survive the disease, their needs for family care change. There will be times when cancer patients thrive on their own, but other times when they are bogged down by the physical and psychological burdens of cancer. Knowing that family caregivers are directly impacted by the cancer of a loved one and making strides to overcome the obstacles is an important goal. The Family Caregiver Project is a great start to helping families survive cancer. Cancer families, ask your cancer center if it is participating in the effort, and if not, question why.