Help for the Older Cancer Patient

Upcoming Programs See our calendar for the details of upcoming programs more

Our 65+ Social Work Program offers psychosocial counseling and interventions to the older cancer patient. The program seeks to improve each participating patient's quality of life. To do this, our counselors help patients adjust to the difficulties associated with illness, as well as helping them to cope with the effects of the normal aging process. Our social workers provide supportive counseling, cognitive and behavorial strategies, and problem-solving techniques through individual, couple, and family sessions.

Those who may benefit from the program's services include older patients living alone without available support; patients who may be experiencing some measure of psychological distress such as depression or anxiety; and those patients who are the primary caregivers of dependent adults or minor children.

In addition, the 65+ Social Work Program provides consultation, education, and information to patients, caregivers, staff, and the community on issues related to aging and cancer. Some topics discussed at our recent educational lecture series include: memory loss, nutrition, exercise, insurance and legal questions, osteoporosis, pain management, and sexual functioning after treatment.

The Pain and Palliative Care Service offers special services for patients over age 70 who have chronic pain or other symptoms related to cancer, treatment, advancing age, as well as those patients who may have end-of-life symptoms. As a palliative care service, our focus is to relieve pain and suffering. We provide comprehensive symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support, and care that is culturally sensitive to our patients and their families. Older adults and their caregivers have special needs including increased risk of drug reactions, increased financial burdens of care, problems related to multiple healthcare providers, and caregiver stress and strain.

We use a variety of interventions including the pharmacologic management of symptoms, and routinely collaborate with the rehabilitation department, the Anesthesia Pain Service, and the Integrative Medicine Service.

When our patients approach the end of their lives, we provide end-of-life care, including aggressive symptom management, assistance with advance care planning, and collaboration with home care agencies and hospices. We routinely collaborate with other members of the healthcare team, including social workers, chaplains, psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, and dietitians to provide compassionate and skilled care to our patients.

When an older adult gets cancer, the diagnosis can coincide with other physical, psychological, and social losses that are taking place. These losses may include diminished sight, hearing, and mobility. At the same time, the loss of family members and friends begins to occur more frequently, and retirement may change an individual's financial security.

The geriatric psychiatry program provides psychosocial support during treatment and addresses the continuing needs of survivors. The services of the geriatric psychiatry program are available to patients, family members, and caretakers.

Our counselors are experienced in identifying various sources of distress, which are often associated with diagnosis, disease recurrence, non-response to cancer treatment, side effects from cancer treatments, and the changes that occur with a cancer diagnosis later in life. Counseling sessions are most often structured as individual, couple, or family sessions. Some group sessions are sponsored through Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Counseling Center. These session are targeted toward patients or family members who might benefit from working with others in similar circumstances. Our psychiatrists can also prescribe medications when needed to address more severe forms of anxiety and depression.

Our counselors are available to patients during their hospital stay as well as on an outpatient basis. Our Counseling Center staff is also able to provide referrals to other mental health specialists -- both within Memorial Sloan-Kettering and externally -- to assist in longer-term counseling needs.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Counseling Center welcomes all cancer patients on an outpatient basis -- whether or not they are receiving care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. For more information, or to make an appointment, please call:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Counseling Center
641 Lexington Avenue, Seventh Floor (on 54th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10022
646-888-0200

The nutrition component of the Geriatric Program includes an initial nutrition assessment, nutrition education, and follow-up assessments. On staff is a full-time nutritionist and registered dietitian, Kate Labzda Finnerty, MS, RD, CDN, who is a member of the Oncology and Geriatric Dietetic Practice Groups for the American Dietetic Association.

Included in a nutrition intervention -- which may be conducted in person or via phone consult -- is a review of each patient's diet history, which encompasses a discussion of food intake frequency, weight and appetite changes, supplement use, and side effects of treatment.

In addition to nutrition education, which covers both regular and special diet restrictions, patients learn about symptom management and the safety and usefulness of dietary supplements.

Finally, our nutrition services offer follow-up assessments of each patient's nutrition status and progress toward nutrition goals as a result of the nutrition intervention and education patients receive.

Specializing in geriatric care, the 65+ rehabilitation program has on staff a physical therapist and an occupational therapist, whose combined goal is to maintain and improve a patient's functional status while preparing them for a safe discharge from the hospital early in the treatment process.

Occupational therapists address basic activities of daily living such as dressing, grooming, toileting, and bathing, as well as instrumental activities of daily living including handling finances, managing medications, and shopping. Occupational therapists also evaluate and treat cognitive deficits such as memory, attention, and vision. Occupational therapists help patients maintain their independence by making environmental modifications or compensatory strategies, as well as making recommendations for optimal safety.

Physical therapists enable patients with a variety of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardio-pulmonary issues to achieve the highest possible level of functional independence. Physical therapists are responsible for evaluating each patient and designing an individualized treatment intervention that will achieve the following objectives: restore functional movement for transfers and walking; diminish pain; increase endurance; and enhance safety awareness. Open communication between the therapist and the patient is encouraged because this ensures a patient's personal goals to be incorporated into the treatment plan. The goal of outpatient physical therapy is to improve a patient's overall quality of life.

Visit the Rehabilitation section on our Web site for more information.

	Flash Player is required to view this video. CancerSmart Web Cast May 20, 2008 -- An Update on Complementary Therapies, Herbs, and Other Botanicals in Cancer Care. Total Run time: 78 minutes.

The Bendheim Integrative Medicine Center is open to older patients, as well as their families and friends. Therapies provided can help alleviate stress and anxiety, increase self-awareness, enhance a sense of well-being, and help prevent health-related problems.

Therapies at the spa-like facility include massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, nutritional counseling, music therapy, and movement/therapy classes such as hatha yoga. Music therapy benefits older patients by enhancing comfort levels and attending to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. It can also create opportunities for self-expression and communication -- all of which can help to improve a patient's quality of life.

For more information about these fee-for-service therapies or to make an appointment, call 212-639-4700 or visit the Integrative Medicine section of our Web site.

Our Clinical Trials Learn about our clinical trials for older adults more

The 65+ oncology team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering is a multidisciplinary group of doctors who work together to provide care that focuses on the needs of elderly cancer patients. Select from the list below to learn more about our specialists, their education, training, board certifications, current publications, and specific areas of clinical expertise.

• Paul A. Hamlin
• Kouta Ito
• Ann A. Jakubowski
• Stuart M. Lichtman, FACP
• William P. Tew

For all questions about the 65+ Program, please contact Kylie Faulkner, Administrative Assistant, at 65plus@mskcc.org or 212-717-3526.

Generous contibutions from the Joachim Silberman family have supported Memorial Sloan-Kettering's programs for the older cancer patients.  Read more about their commitment.