Supportive Care for Brain Tumors
Supportive Care for Brain Tumor Patients: Enhancing Well-being and Quality of Life
Each person’s experience with a brain tumor is unique. It is essential to consult with healthcare professionals to develop an individualized, supportive care plan that addresses a patient’s specific needs. A compassionate and comprehensive approach makes supportive care an invaluable resource in the battle against brain tumors. By integrating supportive care into the comprehensive treatment plan, patients are empowered to face their brain tumor journey with resilience and hope.
The Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, an international leader in neurological care, is uniquely positioned to provide patients and their families unparalleled patient care and comprehensive supportive care throughout their brain tumor journey.
Neuro-rehabilitation
Neuro-rehabilitation plays a vital role in helping individuals regain and maximize their functional abilities, enhance their quality of life, and promote recovery after brain tumor surgery and treatment. You may be visited by an in-patient rehab specialist after surgery during your hospital stay. Your doctor may also recommend an outpatient rehab facility for physical, occupational, and speech therapy if needed.
Neuropsychology
By studying the cognitive abilities of individuals with brain tumors, neuropsychologists gain valuable insights into the specific areas of the brain that are affected and the resulting behavioral changes. This knowledge is instrumental in tailoring treatment plans and providing appropriate support to patients and their families.
Palliative Care
Palliative care is a comprehensive specialty care designed to support patients with a serious or life-threatening illness from diagnosis on, including during treatments and hospitalizations. When it comes to a brain tumor diagnosis that can drastically change how someone can care for themselves, palliative care can be incredibly helpful to the patient and even the caregiver. Palliative care is often grouped with ‘end of life’ care or hospice, leading many to believe it is only available to individuals who are nearing the end of their lives. Learn more about the common misconceptions surrounding palliative care.
Support Groups
Our Brain Tumor Support Group provides a supportive setting for open discussion. Each group is led by a peer facilitator (a survivor or a family caregiver) who understands the challenges you may be facing. Some meetings feature a guest speaker. The Barrow Brain Tumor Support Group is open to individuals with brain tumors, their family members and friends. Participants will meet others in similar situations, discuss individual problems, ask questions and learn new information about a variety of topics.
Oncology Social Work Service
Our oncology social worker is an essential part of your care team, dedicated to providing support and assistance to help you cope with and thrive through the unique challenges you and your loved ones may face. Social work services are specifically designed to ensure that you have what you need to reduce stress and maintain your well-being, with a particular focus on the immense value of your quality of life during and after treatment. Social work services provide pertinent insight and support for you and your loved ones in numerous ways.
Services Offered:
System Navigation
Health care and insurance systems can be complex. A social worker can assist in guiding you through these systems and coordinate between in-house providers and services to ensure that you and your loved ones have access to the necessary resources.
Advocacy
We are here to help you advocate for your rights when it comes to insurance barriers, workplace accommodations, medication/pharmacy access and disability benefits.
Connection and Coordination
Social work services can connect you and your loved ones with essential resources and support in the community, including housing, transportation, financial assistance, DME/wigs, emotional support, and coping strategies to help you with practical and logistical needs.
Advance Directives and Care Planning
Your social worker can help you and your loved ones understand and plan for future decisions about your medical care. If you’d like to utilize advance directives, legal documents that provide instructions for medical care when you cannot communicate your wishes, your social worker can assist you in completing those documents. Advance directives, such as a living will or power of attorney for healthcare, empower you to make decisions about your care and treatment preferences.
The American Brain Tumor Association offers patients and their loved ones resources for these options in the later stages of life.
Emotional Support, Education and Support Groups
Social work services are available to connect you with support groups tailored to your specific diagnosis or need. Educational materials can also be offered to provide you and your loved ones with the knowledge and supportive community to navigate your journey.
Resources
Recommended by our social workers, the following resources offer additional information for patients and their families. Please ask your clinician if you want to connect with a social worker for more support and assistance planning.