Abstract 1297: Patient engagement: Improving the at home care for cancer patients in treatment

Abstract

Abstract CareBOX Program is an Austin-based non-profit founded in 2014 to address a serious gap in cancer care for patients in the Central Texas area. It provides essential nutritional supplements and supplies to help prevent malnutrition, infections, and injuries from falls as patients continue at-home recovery during treatment and following surgery. About 80 percent of the supplies CareBOX Program provides are not covered by insurance. Many patients could not afford to purchase these items on their own. Volunteers deliver the CareBOXes to the clients’ homes. CareBOX Program has always been an inclusive organization. We operate on the basis that all cancer patients in Central Texas in need of our services will receive them as long as we have the funding to do so. Our youngest patient has been 3 months old and our oldest patient has been 93 years old. Currently we are serving more women (61%) than men (39%). Approximately 67% of patient households report annual income of less than $35,000. To date, CareBOX program volunteers have delivered more than 3,800 CareBOXes Citation Format: Robert Blomquist. Patient engagement: Improving the at home care for cancer patients in treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1297.