Offering a menu of self-care and respite options to support parents and caregivers through the long journey of caring for a very sick child and their sibling(s).
Self Care for Caregivers
Ilene’s Caregivers was launched in 2022 to complete the circle of caring at Lucy’s Love Bus by providing essential support services for our Love Bus children’s parents, guardians, and caregivers.
ALL parents who have or had a child with cancer, and who live in New England, are eligible for support through this program-- we have special support services for everyone!
This program is generously funded by The Ilene Beal Foundation and The Parmenter Foundation.
ALL New England-based childhood cancer parents are invited to join one of our free programs:
- Weekly online peer-to-peer support group for mothers/female caregivers
- Monthly online peer-to-peer support group for dads/male caregivers
- Monthly online peer-to-peer support group for bereaved parents and caregivers
- Monthly online peer-to-peer support group in Spanish
- 1:1 support phone calls with program manager, Colleen Tierney, cancer parent
- Monthly virtual integrative therapy sessions and recordings, providing introductions to healing modalities that individuals can practice on their own time and add to their toolkit for managing stress, including:
- Tong Ren Sessions, a group energy healing technique held in collaboration with Open Channels Energy
- Restorative yoga, a gentle, passive style of yoga that aims to promote relaxation and healing, led by Sarah Oleson Yoga
- Guided mindfulness and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping, a non-invasive technique that involves tapping on specific points of the body to help manage emotions and reduce stress led by Ann Biese
A one-time grant for individual funding for integrative therapies is available, and can be used for:
- Massage therapy, spa services, yoga classes, or energy healing sessions
- Individual, group, or partner counseling
- Support from an independent healthcare advocate
- Respite weekend retreats
- Home visits and end-of-life doula care for families navigating the end-of-life journey
For more information, please contact Caregivers Program Manager Colleen Tierney at colleen@lucyslovebus.org.
