Enhancing health care for older adults battling cancer requires a deep understanding of the social drivers that shape patient outcomes. Throughout my career, I have witnessed first-hand the profound impact of these factors — from food insecurity to transportation barriers — on our patients' ability to receive and respond to treatment. It’s about more than just medical care; it's about supporting the whole person. That’s why our focus at the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center extends beyond traditional treatment methods to include comprehensive support systems that address the varied needs of our patients.
Utilizing insights from America's Health Rankings enables us to strengthen our interventions to meet the specific needs of our community. For example, given that over 15% of households in Louisiana experience food insecurity, we are actively addressing the issue; our initiatives include providing prepackaged food boxes at our cancer centers and piloting a grocery program that allows food-insecure patients to pick up nutritious foods from a large retail store near their homes. To truly foster health, we must empower patients battling cancer not only to fight the disease but also to overcome food insecurity, ensuring they have the nourishment needed for their journey to wellness.
The support we receive from our community and donors, including a $2.3 million grant from the United Health Foundation, strengthens our ongoing efforts to enhance our mission which is to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. I am filled with hope because of the generosity and trust that fuel our mission and help us expand our services to reach more patients every day.