The AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center is Not Your Average Free Resource

• Lisa Hyde-Barrett
• Nurse's Corner

I recently visited the Hope Lodge in Boston. I had been there once before to visit a mesothelioma patient. I have raved about this place since the day I stepped into it, so now I would like to give you some information about the free facility.

The formal name is the AstraZenaca Hope Lodge Center, and it is offered through the American Cancer Society. (Photo Credit: ACS). There are a few restrictions before you can become a resident – you have to be forty miles from home, and you have to be actively seeking cancer treatment on an outpatient basis. There may be other requirements. You are allowed to have a caregiver stay with you.

Boston’s Hope Lodge has 40 private suites available to the patients and their caregivers. The accommodations include a bedroom, private bath with shower, and a sitting room. This particular lodge, which opened its doors in November 2008, has provided over 14,000 nights of free lodging to cancer patients. A typical patient spends about six weeks here which accounts for close to $7,000 in savings.

There are approximately 31 Hope Lodges throughout the United States. To date, they have had guests from 48 states and 1,500 countries. This was the second time I had been there and what a great feeling it left inside me! I know about and have seen a lot of free resources, but this is by far one of the best services extended to cancer patients. There is also transportation provided to local appointments, whether it be chemotherapy or radiation treatments or a doctor’s appointment.

The feeling of community and support at the Hope Lodge is unbelievable. If you are traveling for cancer care, the Hope Lodge may be a housing option for you. If you are interested or just need more information, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345.

Jennifer Gelsick’s father, Don Smitley, stayed in the Hope Lodge of New York City while undergoing mesothelioma treatments at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Read about her family’s experience on “Faces of Mesothelioma.”

As always, if you have any questions about any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected].