Are You Living Well?
The Joan Karnell Cancer
Center offers older cancer
patients a one-of-a-kind program.
Approximately 60 percent of all
cancers occur in patients older than
age 65. As the population continues
to age and we see increases in the
number of people over age 65 and
over age 85, the number of older
adults receiving cancer care is also
expected to increase.
And, as many
older adults already know, they often
have different social and economic
situations than their younger
counterparts — situations that can
impact their ability to access optimum
medical care.
"Older cancer patients face many
of the same issues that their younger
counterparts do but more so," says
David Mintzer, MD, Chief, Section of
Hematology/Oncology, Pennsylvania
Hospital. "They may have coexisting
medical conditions, fixed incomes, or
perhaps less family support."
To help older patients address
additional issues like these, the Joan
Karnell Cancer Center offers the
Living Well program. Designed for
patients aged 65 and older, the
program is a real, tangible resource to
help patients deal with a number of
social and psychological factors that
may be impacting their cancer care.
It is one of a limited number of
programs of its kind in the country
with a dedicated social worker
(funded by the Harrison Fund) who
seeks solutions tailored to individual
patient's needs.
Helping You Find Resources
"If you've never had cancer or
had a family member who has had
cancer, dealing with the diagnosis and
treatment may be difficult, not just medically but in terms of logistics,
finances and other issues," says Dana
Marcone, geriatric oncology social
work specialist. "You may not be
aware of the many resources that are
available to help you. And that's
where I fit in. It's my job to know
what programs and services exist that
could help you."
Sarah Kagan, PhD, RN, Professor
of Gerontological Nursing, University
of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, is
one of the world's leading authorities
on the care of older adults with cancer
and an advisor to the program. She
says, "Many older patients have other
chronic problems and functional needs
related to their current health status,
beyond having cancer. A program like
Living Well can help not only manage
the many aspects of care but also the
logistics of getting through the health
care system."
And, the program is not just for
cancer patients. Caregivers are also
encouraged to participate. "I do
a lot of work helping to support
caregivers," says Marcone. "I can help
them get physician referrals, if they
need them, or put them in touch with
various types of support groups
tailored to their needs."
Understanding Your Needs
It's this type of help — care that
transcends your ability to get the best
possible medical care — that the Cancer
Center sought to offer when it
developed the program. "We saw a
real need to provide additional help
for our older patients," says Helen
Grosky, oncology social worker.
"Not only do we have a number of
programs right here that people may
not be aware of but Dana is in touch
with many others that, for the right
patient, may be able to provide help."
"That's the real difference with the
Living Well program at the Joan Karnell
Cancer Center," says Kagan. "The staff
is very sensitive to the fact that older
patients' needs and concerns might be
different. In fact, for some older adults,
having cancer may not be their most
pressing concern. The care of an ailing
spouse or other family member, for
example, may be their number one
priority."
"The best advice I can give you,"
continues Kagan, "is to ask for what
you need. Whatever it is, regardless of
how silly or trivial it may seem to
others, ask for it. Maybe you want the
doctor to explain a procedure to your
daughter after it is explained to you.
Or perhaps there are other things that
would help ease your stress. Whatever
those things are, ask for them. And if
you don't know what to ask for or
which questions to ask, say that to your
nurse or your social worker so they can
identify resources and answers that may
be useful and reassuring."
Marcone agrees. "The Living Well
program is here to help you guide your
treatment in a way that makes sense for
you. We're here to help you get the kind
of treatment experience you want and
to help you cope with any additional
stresses that may be impacting your
treatment."
More than 175 patients are
currently enrolled in the program.
Patients are typically referred by a nurse
or doctor, but can also request to meet
with a social worker to find out more
about the program. For more
information, you can also call
215-829-6466 or visit the Living Well web site.
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