Taking a break is part of healing.
It is hard to overstate the importance of self-care, especially in the midst of a highly stressful medical crisis— your own, or that of a loved one. Daily life and mental energy revolve around treatment, visits to the doctor, and a steady stream of worry about what lies ahead. A vacation can provide a respite from all of that. But for many, justifying the added expense of a getaway— much less the effort of coordinating one— is just not realistic. That’s why we’re here. We believe in the emotional, spiritual, and physical healing power of respite stays and that the benefits can be very far-reaching.
Social workers and doctors also recognize the quantifiable benefits of respite vacations. One of the cancer respite foundations we work with, For Pete’s Sake, tracks patient outcomes through their nominating oncologists. 100% report improvements in patient, caregiver, and family outlook after a respite experience.
proven benefits
“There are many psychological benefits of taking a short trip, particularly looking forward to one. The happiness of a getaway comes in three’s: anticipation, experience, and memories, with the most pleasure coming from anticipation.”
-Psychologist Judy Rosenthal, Ph.D.
