Come together with other caregivers to navigate your loved one’s #prostatecancer journey. Find support and empowerment in a dedicated group.
The Caregivers Support Group is a program of The Empowerment Network, Inc (TEN), a St. Louis-based prostate cancer advocacy, education, and awareness nonprofit organization.
For many prostate cancer survivors, they are often not on the journey alone. A spouse, family members, and others provide encouragement, companionship, and if needed, personal and chore-like management routines to help the men do what they’re supposed to do as they navigate the course of the disease.
Empathy is a must for the caregivers. Emotional strength is essential. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience. However, caregivers can benefit from someone to lean on.
The Empowerment Network’s (TEN) Caregivers Support Group is that leaning post for caregivers. TEN’s caregiver support group is a place for caregivers to share their experiences, feelings, and concerns, and to receive support and information from others. It also provides resources and strategies for caring for prostate cancer survivors.
The goal of TEN’s Caregivers Support Group is to provide a sense of camaraderie, so caregivers feel that they too are not alone, says TEN’s Executive Director, Robin Wright-Jones, who coordinates the program.
“We want them to feel the same thing our survivors, the brotherhood and fellowship inside of the survivor’s support group,” Robin says. “We want the caregivers to be embraced in the same way where they have a comfort level to talk about their intimate experiences with the caregiver journey – what was good, what was bad, how they worked through certain issues as it relates to recovery and share those things.”
The meetings are held monthly. Prostate cancer survivors often come with their caregivers. In addition to sharing experiences, presenters share insights on issues like health, insurance, finance, and other topics.
“There was a time when we had a comedian, one of our survivors, who could make people laugh,” she recalls. “We also have done music therapy.”
The current caregivers’ support group evolved from its formation in 2009 when the survivors’ support group meetings were held at Metropolitan Village Apartments where the first meetings occurred. They were called Women Against Prostate Cancer, also known lovingly as the “Angels” who were made up of about 10 women who helped Mellve Shahid set up the meetings for the survivors and served refreshments. Mellve’s late sister, Angela, was part of the women’s group and didn’t live there but she was supporting her brother.
TEN’s caregivers’ support group includes seasoned caregivers who have a wealth of knowledge, and perspectives built over sixteen years.
“We’ve had caregivers who have been with us through the whole journey,” Robin adds. “And they’ve seen from diagnosis through post-operation and complete healing. So, they have a deep understanding and they’re willing to share that with the new caregivers that come in.”
#CaregivingCommunity, #ProstateCancerCare, #SupportGroupJourney
