Maija Reblin, PhD
An individual’s cancer journey often involves the support of one or more family members or friends who serve as caregivers. Caregivers provide key assistance for patients and caregiver support has been linked to better patient outcomes. However, the important role caregivers play often goes unrecognized.
Recent work by Maija Reblin, PhD, co-leader of the Cancer Population Science research program, seeks to identify what resources could decrease caregiver burden. Her work, collaborating with Drs. Nancy Gell, Kelly Melekis, Chris Proulx, Sarah Nowak, and students Nina Pastore and Natalie Ambrose, published in PEC Innovation and Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, finds that the supportive resources that would decrease caregivers’ very high levels of burden vary widely. However, one common need among caregivers was for hands-on support in the home, a challenge that is especially difficult for caregivers supporting patients in rural areas.
These findings support the need to create more comprehensive programs which provide caregivers access to supportive resources that reduce caregiver burden and allow caregivers to better support patients.
This work was supported by the Buffum Foundation and included collaborations with CPS members and faculty in the Center on Aging. 
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