Goshen Health welcomes cancer patients and caretakers to the CARE House

Going through cancer treatments is a battle that can be made even more difficult if patients cannot find care nearby. Wanting to alleviate the burden of fighting cancer, the CARE Foundation and Goshen Health are proud to offer cancer patients an alternative to long commutes for treatments: a stay at the CARE House. which is within walking distance of Goshen Center for Cancer Care. The CARE House welcomes patients who live a minimum of 40 miles away to reserve their spot at the CARE House.

The CARE Foundation Board of Directors was composed of Goshen Physicians, and the director called for a meeting for the members of the Goshen Physician group to pitch project ideas that would aid the community. Ultimately, one of the nurses proposed that they create a place to house patients who lived far away, and the CARE House was born.

“We decided we were going to build a house for patients that came to Goshen Health that would be free, donation only. We did not charge people, even from the start,” said Karen Boyd, president of the CARE Foundation Board of Directors.

The CARE House is supported by frequent grants from the hospital, generous donations, and a variety of fundraisers, such as raffles and motorcycle rides. Early on in the CARE House’s history, supporters not only became a part of the CARE House through their donations but they also became a literal part of the house itself.

“We have had a local artist draw a tree on a wall of the house, and donors have had their name put on either a leaf or a butterfly. We were so awed by the community; the tree on the upper level has been filled pretty much since the beginning,” Boyd said. “When we rebuilt the CARE House across the street from the original as the hospital expanded, the local artist came back and drew a replica of the original tree with the butterflies and leaves of those who’ve donated. We have run out of room to add more names, but we will obviously accept donations from anyone who is willing.”

Beyond the beautiful, hand-painted tree, the house is packed with practical and fun amenities alike. Patients must have a caretaker stay with them at the CARE House, and the two-story home can house up to seven patients and seven caretakers at a time. There is a sitting area by the fountain on the patio, a living room, a lower level with two washers and dryers, a pool table, and a sitting area with TV and games. Since the CARE House is maintained by a housekeeper, patients and their caretakers can relax in the home and save their energy for tackling their treatments.

Boyd and other members of the CARE Foundation Board of Directors meet every other month, but they enjoy taking a hands-on approach to maintaining the CARE House and getting to know the people who stay there.

“We love to do the decorating; that helps people cheer up a little bit. Christmas is a big deal for us to decorate. One year, we had two couples—patients and their caretakers—staying there who made good friends with one another, and they said they wanted to cook a whole Thanksgiving meal for us. Also, at the time, another gal and I were decorating the Christmas tree, and they asked if they could help,” Boyd said.

The length of stay at the CARE House is dependent on a patient’s treatment. Boyd would encourage all qualifying patients to reserve their spot at the CARE House to take advantage of its close proximity to the Goshen Center for Cancer Care, abundant amenities, and money-saving capacity.

To learn more about Goshen Health and its patient resources, visit goshenhealth.com.