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 which have frail care facilities.
The retirement home 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. Patients must be registered with CANSA to access this service and will be supported by CANSA volunteer services.
There are two different kinds of respite service available at our Care Rooms:
Care for Terminal Cancer Patients
These CANSA Care Rooms are for the use of terminally ill cancer patients that are registered with CANSA and require palliative care.
They will receive care and support when admitted to a Care Room in Gauteng.
To register as a CANSA patient and arrange for admission, please contact the staff member listed per Care Room.
Care for Non-Terminal Cancer Patients
These CANSA Care Rooms provide accommodation and care for non-terminal cancer patients for the purpose of nursing care, pain control and alleviation of symptoms.
Members of patient’s family are also able to take a break from the hard work of caring for a bedridden patient. Respite accommodation is available for a period of 14 days for patients.
To register as a CANSA patient and arrange for admission, please contact the staff member listed per Care Room in the Northern Cape and Western Cape.
Read more about CANSA’s home-based care service…
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 | Dorothy du Plooy | dduplooy@cansa.org.za |
| Free State | Not yet | Dorothy du Plooy | dduplooy@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 | Dorothy du Plooy | dduplooy@cansa.org.za |
| Southern Cape / Klein Karoo | Yes | Dorothy du Plooy | dduplooy@cansa.org.za |
| Western Cape | Yes | Dorothy du Plooy | dduplooy@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.
