The ACS EMPOWER program launches nationwide to all 31 Hope Lodge locations on July 23. The pilot program began in December 2024 at four Hope Lodge sites. An additional five sites were launched in April.ACS EMPOWER is a complimentary educational initiative designed for individuals affected by cancer and their caregivers. It features in-person sessions that promote overall well-being, facilitate community connections, offer resources for navigating cancer, and deliver emotional support. It is available to Hope Lodge guests, caregivers, and people with cancer in the surrounding community.“We recognized a need to further support people on their cancer journey, integrating a focus on whole-person health into the Hope Lodge experience. ACS EMPOWER is designed to help people elevate their quality of life by fostering resilience, connection, and well-being,” said Tamara Fernandez, vice president, Hope Lodge.The seven elements of ACS EMPOWER are designed to create a comprehensive support system for people with cancer and their caregivers. Activities aimed at physical resilience, fun, and self-expression are integral to promoting emotional and physical health. This multifaceted approach ensures that participants can achieve and maintain wellness throughout their treatment journey.Engage: Connect to knowledge and support communities, strengthen social networks, and combat exclusion, and isolationMove: Strengthen, energize, and destress with physical resilience activitiesPlay: Harness the power and positive impact of fun at any age; evoke joy and laughter, reduce anxiety, and embrace teamworkOptimize: Position to achieve and maintain comprehensive physical and physiologic wellness during active treatment and beyondWaken: Elevate consciousness, unleash creativity, and embrace self-expression to support healingEnrich: Explore the benefits of complementary, functional, and integrative medicine principles, techniques, and programsResource: Understand the array and availability of non-clinical support resources and health-related social needs programsThe ACS EMPOWER curriculum allows each Hope Lodge team to tailor the program to fit the needs of guests and create meaningful connections within the local community."This program is going to revolutionize the Hope Lodge experience and create a brighter, stronger future for the patients and caregivers we serve,” added Tamara.ACS EMPOWER activities include:Cooking demonstrations featuring nutritious, cancer-friendly mealsArts and crafts for creative expression and relaxationLive music and entertainment to uplift and inspireMassage therapy to support stress relief and healingYoga and stretch exercises to enhance physical well-beingEducational lectures on health, nutrition, and survivorshipLooking AheadWith this nationwide expansion, ACS EMPOWER represents a new era of integrative oncology support, ensuring every Hope Lodge guest, as well as people impacted by cancer who live in the nearby community, has access to comprehensive, whole-person care throughout their cancer journey.
