CANSA understands that specialist support is required when a cancer patient is very ill, and family members need assistance in caring for their loved one, or when circumstances demand that they are temporarily not able to care for their loved one.
CANSA is able to offer a respite service for a short period to help patients and their loved ones through this difficult time through its Care Rooms.
CANSA can offer this service through our partnerships with local retirement homes and similar facilities which have frail care rooms.
The retirement home or facility allocates a room to CANSA and then local community members and businesses assist CANSA to furnish, decorate and prepare the room to ensure that it is comfortable for our patients.
Cancer patients have priority access to this service. To arrange for admission, please contact the staff member listed per Care Room, who will advise regarding cost (certain medical aids do assist). Patients and loved ones will also be supported by CANSA’s trained volunteers.
There are two different kinds of respite service available at our Care Rooms:
Care for Terminal Cancer Patients
Terminally ill cancer patients who require palliative care will receive care and support when admitted to a Care Room in Gauteng.
To arrange for admission, follow the link and please contact the staff member listed per Care Room.
Care for Non-Terminal Cancer Patients
Non-terminal cancer patients will receive nursing care, pain control and alleviation of side effects of cancer or cancer treatment. Members of the patient’s family are able to take a break from the hard work of caring for a bedridden patient or if they are going to be away for a short time. Respite accommodation is available for a period of 14 days for patients.
To arrange for admission, please follow the links and contact the staff member listed per Care Room in Gauteng, or Northern Cape or Western Cape.
Read more about CANSA’s home-based care service, equipping loved ones to care for their family members at home…
Queries
Please direct general queries regarding our Care Room service to:
| Province or Region | Availability in Province / Region | Contact Person | Email Address |
| Eastern Cape | Not yet | Lorraine Govender | lgovender@cansa.org.za |
| Free State | Not yet | Lorraine Govender | lgovender@cansa.org.za |
| Gauteng | Yes | Olivia Curlewis | ocurlewis@cansa.org.za |
| KZN | Not yet | Olivia Curlewis | ocurlewis@cansa.org.za |
| Limpopo | Not yet | Olivia Curlewis | ocurlewis@cansa.org.za |
| Mpumalanga | Not yet | Olivia Curlewis | ocurlewis@cansa.org.za |
| North West | Not yet | Olivia Curlewis | ocurlewis@cansa.org.za |
| Northern Cape | Yes | Lorraine Govender | lgovender@cansa.org.za |
| Southern Cape / Klein Karoo | Yes | Lorraine Govender | lgovender@cansa.org.za |
| Western Cape | Yes | Lorraine Govender | lgovender@cansa.org.za |
Support Resources for cancer Survivors & Loved Ones
Please also consider joining our Facebook Support Group: CANSA Caring for the Caregivers or complete the online form to be added to our Caregiver or Bereavement WhatsApp Support Groups.
Find additional online resources for cancer Survivors (anyone who has heard the words ‘you have cancer’), caregivers or loved ones, and about coping with cancer.
Disclaimer
CANSA does not provide treatment, and if any abnormalities are detected during screening, then you will be referred to an appropriate specialist or healthcare professional.
CANSA does not prescribe or provide medication, as it is not authorised to do so.
However, our clincial specialist nurse, Sr Vlooi Venter vventer@cansa.org.za is able to provide free advice with regards to management of side effects of cancer, side effects of cancer treatment and pain.
