White Paper and Research
FPS is the ONLY Patient RESPITE support care entity in oncology with reported patient and caregiver Family Health Outcomes and Patient Outcome Measures.
When you invest in FPS and our families, you get scientifically supported results. For the past 18 years, we have chronicled the improved outcomes of oncology patients and their families. The For Pete Sake Patient Registry is a longitudinal study that measures the results of the care provided.
Respite Changes Lives
Our Research and Outcomes
Healthcare Professional Outcomes
Annually, hundreds of our Oncology Professionals report outcome data to measure improvement in patient/family ability to cope with cancer. Surveyed both pre and post respite in the clinical setting, these Nominators report on average an increase in coping as follows:
(data represents over 300 oncology healthcare professional surveys since 2019. Click to see a full outcome presentation here.)
White Paper
Under the direction of Dr. Natalie Hamrick, Research Psychologist, FPS conducted a five-year study on the impact of respite on family health (see below for FPS Family Health Pillars) This is the first community-based family respite program to report on efficacy in meeting objectives. The conclusions of this study are as follows:
- Cancer survivors improved on spousal communication, family hardiness, joviality and coping efficacy.
- Caregivers improved on spousal communication, children communication, joviality and coping efficacy.
- Children experienced increased joviality.
These results suggest that investing in resources in these families may help improve relationships and facilitate efforts to stay engaged in the cancer battle. For a full copy of the results and accompanying white paper, please click here.
APOS
In March 2024, Dr. Natalie Hamrick presented at the 2024 APOS (American Psychosocial Oncological Society) Symposium about a five-year blind study: Hope and Meaning Making Components of a Respite for Adults with Cancer and their Families. Data collected both pre and post-respite showed that cancer survivors experienced post-respite increases in hope
and coping efficacy. Listen to her presentation here.
In 2022, Dr. Hamrick presented the five years of research data mentioned above at the APOS (American Psychosocial Oncological Society) 19th Annual Conference in a presentation, Cancer Families’ Intentional Respite Experience, Family Dynamics and Positive Outlook
A link to the presentation can be found here.
and coping efficacy. Listen to her presentation here.
ASCO
FPS respite data and outcomes have been recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and published in a 2020 abstract, titled Individual and Community Respite as Supportive care for Adult Cancer Patients, their caregivers and their families.
Read our abstract here!
The Family Health Model
Cancer touches every aspect of a family’s life.
Ensuring a family’s overall health is strong during the cancer journey is critical to coping with this disease in the best way possible.
Respite has therapeutic benefits that span from emotional to physical to psychosocial, with lots in between! And these benefits are not just for the patient, but also the caregiver and children of the patient.
The FPS Family Health Model outlines the impact of respite on family health and moreover, no family has a financial burden to experience respite. While on Travel Respite at Woodloch, families participate in carefully sourced activities that address our Family Health Pillars, including meditation and chair yoga, journaling with prompts, art therapy, nutrition and meals, nature walks and team building activities. The FPS Staycation Respite includes materials that address the areas of health outlined below within the confines of a family’s home. Together we make love greater than cancer!
Family Health
Strengthen family unit | Improve communications | Promote connectedness | Inspire team mentality
Mental
Health
Health
- Reduce anxiety and stress
- Boost coping skills
- Find inspiration and encouragement
- Build resilience and future treatment
Physical
Health
Health
- Promote movement and exercise
- Stimulate senses with art and meditation
- Encourage nutritious family meals (no cooking required!)
- Ground physical self with natural environment
Psychosocial
Health
Health
- Deepen support system with group discussion
- Build connections with other patients and families
- Cultivate friendships among peers
- Benefit from ongoing support beyond the respite
Emotional
Health
Health
- Foster listening and sharing in a safe space
- Validate positive and negative emotions
- Practice gratitude
- Encourage adaptability
Spiritual
Health
Health
- Discover purpose in the journey
- Embrace faith and hope
- Nourish mind, body and spirit well-being
- Explore ritual for prayer and reflection
Financial
Health
Health
- Participate in cost-free respite programming
- Connect with beneficial resources
- Recharge for continued employment
- Mitigate financial duress caused by diagnosis
Family Health
- Strengthen family unit
- Improve communications
- Promote connectedness
- Inspire team mentality
Mental Health
- Reduce anxiety and stress
- Boost coping skills
- Find inspiration and encouragement
- Build resilience and future treatment
Physical Health
- Promote movement and exercise
- Stimulate senses with art and meditation
- Encourage nutritious family meals (no cooking required!)
- Ground physical self with natural environment
Psychosocial Health
- Deepen support system with group discussion
- Build connections with other patients and families
- Cultivate friendships among peers
- Benefit from ongoing support beyond the respite
Emotional Health
- Foster listening and sharing in a safe space
- Validate positive and negative emotions
- Practice gratitude
- Encourage adaptability
Spiritual Health
- Discover purpose in the journey
- Embrace faith and hope
- Nourish mind, body and spirit well-being
- Explore ritual for prayer and reflection
Financial Health
- Participate in cost-free respite programming
- Connect with beneficial resources
- Recharge for continued employment
- Mitigate financial duress caused by diagnosis
FPS Role in Integrative Oncology
FPS has created endpoints of well-being that relate to every health pillar in the FPS Family Health Model. Every hour on respite is meaningful and produces measurable outcomes. Here’s a breakdown of what is currently provided to a family while on Travel Respite.
608 Transformative Hours
Provided to each FPS family on travel respite
124 Hours
Family Health
- Family fun games
- Daily meals together
- Bonfire and other gatherings
- Comedy and entertainment
- Nightly chit chats
70 Hours
Mental Health
- Chair yoga and meditation
- Reflective stillness
- Art therapy
- Journaling and prompts
- Nature walks
35 Hours
Physical Health
- 14 Balanced meals served to each respite recipient
- Nutrition education
- Water therapy
- Access to gym and fitness classes
72 Hours
Psychosocial Health
- Community connections
- Team encouragement
- Community Woodloch activities: Escape room, boat build, comedy and magic shows
28 Hours
Emotional Health
- Chair yoga and meditation
- Family mealtime/bonding
- Journaling and prompts
- New connections formed
- Accomplishing adventures
- Anticipatory excitedness
18 Hours
Spiritual Health
- Prayerful reflection and stillness
- Chair yoga and meditation
- Journaling and prompts
- Shared faith experience
261 Hours
Financial Health
- Cost free respite experience
- Supplemental cash contributions
- Financial education
- No stress planning
Respite Reinforced
For families in the FPS program, we offer support beyond the respite that assists them as their journey with cancer continues. This support continues to address our seven health pillars and comes in many forms. Below, we highlight three of our major initiatives that reinforce respite each year for our families!
Holiday
Program
Program
Holiday Program
FPS partners with corporations, individuals, and Take a Break Clubs to provide holiday cheer to FPS Families experiencing financial duress and/or the loss of a spouse or parent. Volunteers then deliver gifts to these families, ensuring their financial and emotional health is boosted during the holiday season.
FPS
Family Events
Family Events
FPS Family Events
We provide at least three complimentary events each year to bring together our Respite Recipients and members of our donor and volunteer community! Our annual Beach Day, Cornhole Tournament, and Pancakes for Pete Family Reception allow us to take a break together and experience a boost in psychosocial, emotional and family health.
Carry on Club and Bereavement Resources
Carry on Club and
Bereavement Resources
Bereavement Resources
For some, the acceptance and management of grief is part of their family’s respite journey. Our resources impact spiritual, emotional, psychosocial and family health. We offer peer to peer support with our Carry on Club, a social club for widows and widowers in our Respite Program, and provide reminders of hope like our annual “angel” mailing which includes handmade angel ornaments sent to grieving FPS families.
Who We Serve
Cancer touches us all; FPS unites families through respite and gives them a community to grow with, lean on and learn from, forever.
For Pete’s Sake serves cancer patients, ages 21-55, their caregivers and their children who reside in PA, NY, NJ, DE or MD.
More information can be found on our Demographic Matrix.
Health Disparities
- 77% of the FPS patients are advanced stage.
- FPS serves all cancer types and is not limited to terminal diagnosis.
- 33% of Respite Recipients identify as a minority.
- We offer our program nomination materials in English and Spanish.
Financial Insecurity
- 83% of the families nominated into the program are designated as in financial duress by their nominators.
- An investment of $1,743,000 per year for the Respite Experiences at no cost to the Patient or his or her family.
- 3,024 days annually for a family in a safe and secure respite environment that promotes healing.
Food Insecurity
- 48 balanced meals provided per family per Travel Respite.
- 6,048 meals per year on Travel Respites.
- 18,144 hours of dedicated meal time annually for families gathered around the table.
Our Mission in Action
At 40 years old, Joseph faced a difficult diagnosis. He served 15 years as a Marine and was medically retired. He and his family were looking forward to a nice, retired life, until he received a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Their FPS Travel Respite was a chance to return to normalcy, even if just for a little while. We are honored to serve a family that has given so much to serve our country!
FPS has been awarded a perfect score by Charity Navigator, a feat accomplished by less than one-tenth of one percent of charities! As the end of 2023 approaches, we encourage you to make your gift by December 31! By choosing to support FPS, you are not just donating to a charity; you can give with confidence and know that your donation will have a direct impact on the 795 people we plan to serve this year with over 76,000 hours of respite.