Logistical and emotional support for AYA patients and caregivers
Social workers, your AYA coordinator and other members of your Children’s Minnesota care team can point you toward a wide variety of resources that can make life with cancer easier.
Your AYA coordinator
Our AYA coordinator will meet with you at the beginning of your treatment and stay with you every step of the way—helping you take advantage of beneficial resources in the hospital and in the community at large. In addition, your coordinator can connect you with patients in similar situations—providing a sense of community through outings, support groups and organized activities.
If you’re a patient, you can also talk to your social worker about resources to help with:
- Financial issues: Services are available to help with financial stresses such as unemployment, health insurance and other expenses of cancer treatment.
- School concerns: We encourage you to go to school during your treatment whenever possible. We can help you with issues such as how your cancer might impact schoolwork or how to talk to friends and teachers about what you are going through.
- Cancer and work balance: Working with cancer is a challenge, but it can be done. From keeping your boss informed about treatment side effects to working with your job’s human resources person on flexible work agreements or Family Medical Leave Act benefits, we can help.
- Transport resources: Getting to appointments, school and work can be difficult. We can provide information on transportation options and maneuver the details to get you where you need to be.
If you’re a caregiver, our social workers can get you the help you need. It doesn’t matter if you are a parent, sibling or a friend, supporting someone through the cancer experience is usually unfamiliar territory. Get resources to build on your strengths, take care of your own health and find support when you need it.
Additional logistical and emotional support resources
Locations and spaces for AYA cancer patients at Children’s
Children’s Minnesota has locations throughout the region where we provide cancer care. Here’s an overview of some of the locations you might visit during your cancer care.
Locations in our hospitals
As an AYA cancer patient at Children’s Minnesota, you have access to spaces that are designed specifically for you and other resources to make you comfortable during your stay.
- AYA Wild Room, sponsored by the Minnesota Wild, is designed to give you a shared space to hang out with your friends and family outside of your hospital room. It features a large screen HD TV, current movies, books and video games to help pass the time during inpatient treatment.
- Libraries provide educational and recreational books and magazines for patients of all ages.
- Interfaith chapels provide space for prayer, meditation and worship.
Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic and C.H. Robinson Infusion Center
Located within the Children’s Specialty Center, the Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic and C.H. Robinson Infusion Center provides more than 5,000 infusion visits per year. Using the clinic and infusion center to receive chemotherapy, blood products or other infusions can eliminate the need for an inpatient stay, reduce insurance and hospital costs, and improve your quality of life because you can return to home, school or work more quickly.