Jacques Wolter,  president of Arcus, Dr Carole Bauer, president Fondation Cancer and Mariette Fischbach, president Europa Donna Luxembourg, sign the convention for the new service. © claude piscitelli

Jacques Wolter,  president of Arcus, Dr Carole Bauer, president Fondation Cancer and Mariette Fischbach, president Europa Donna Luxembourg, sign the convention for the new service. © claude piscitelli

Cancer Foundation and Europa Donna Luxembourg, alongside Arcus, are launching a new service that aims to help parents with day-to-day management of the family home.

Recognising that parents of young children face a real challenge if they are undergoing treatment for cancer, three associations have joined forces to provide a service that will offer them some relief and improve their quality of life.

The new family support service was initiated by the Cancer Foundation and Europa Donna Luxembourg, in association with Arcus, a non-profit association of charities who provide social, educational and therapeutic support for children and families.

The new programme aims to ease day-to-day management of the family home by relieving parents of some of their duties. It will also provide the patient’s children with the support they need and help their partners in the household.

Free service

Any patient undergoing treatment who is parent to a child aged up to 13, and resident in Luxembourg, can benefit from this service free of charge. The aid will be available for a maximum of three consecutive months and for a maximum of eight hours per day.

Through the joint funding of this pilot project, we want to offer a concrete solution to patients.
Lucienne Thommes

Lucienne Thommes, Director , Cancer Foundation

“When a parent of young children has cancer, he or she must continue to perform the tasks of family life despite his or her treatment,” explains Cancer Foundation director Lucienne Thommes. “Tired, they are often unable to do so and need external help to accompany their children. Through the joint funding of this pilot project, we want to offer a concrete solution to patients.”

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The service will deploy authorised professionals to assist families by accompanying the children in daily life as well as help getting them to and from school and any extra- curricular activities they may have. Personnel will also provide support in the supervision of homework,  and they can also help in the maintenance of the home and the preparation of meals.

“The family caregiver’s mission is to work closely with the family and its entourage,” explains Mariette Fischbach, president of Europa Donna, the support group for women with breast cancer.

Applications to receive the support of the new service can be made via email: fondation@cancer.lu or by calling the Cancer Foundation on tel: 45 30 331.