For Families: Bringing Comfort Home Through Story
Sorry that your family member or friend has cancer. To boost their emotional wellbeing, especially if they have cancer fog, try reading to them.
The Opportunity: Respite and Connection
When a loved one is dealing with cancer treatment, especially with the challenges of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI) or fatigue, the burden on families and caregivers is immense. Finding simple, shared moments of peace can feel impossible.
Our program empowers you—the family member or caregiver—to deliver therapeutic reading sessions that offer profound comfort, connection, and a much-needed break from the reality of illness.
The Opportunity: Respite and Connection
When a loved one is dealing with cancer treatment, especially with the challenges of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI) or fatigue, the burden on families and caregivers is immense. Finding simple, shared moments of peace can feel impossible.
Our program empowers you—the family member or caregiver—to deliver therapeutic reading sessions that offer profound comfort, connection, and a much-needed break from the reality of illness.
Tips
- ALWAYS personalise the reading material to the person you’re reading to – there’s no point reading science fiction to someone who only likes romance and mysteries!
- Funny stories or stories with a twist are usually good for everyone.
- If you’re going to read a story of your own choosing, please pre-read it to yourself to check it’s appropriate for your loved one (e.g. no death, chronic illness, etc.).
- Only read aloud what you are comfortable reading aloud.
- Be aware of fatigue, especially if your loved one is in active treatment, within a year of treatment or has ongoing pain.
- If your loved one has severe cancer fog and doesn’t ‘get’ the ending of a story (you’ll be able to tell by their lack of reaction), gently recap the ending
e.g. “Wow, wasn’t that a surprise when ….”
