Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

Wellspring is a network of community-based centres that provide support and information, at no charge, to individuals and families living with cancer.  Wellspring aims to:

• Meet the social, emotional, psychological, and informational needs of cancer patients and their families
• Offer educational opportunities to the public on healthy behaviours and cancer prevention
• Assist people living with cancer in re-establishing control over their lives
• Provide training and education opportunities for healthcare professionals
• Help cancer patients and their families learn to cope with the fear, isolation, disruption and practical problems which cancer can bring into their lives

History of Organization

Wellspring was founded in Toronto in 1992 by Anne Armstrong Gibson, who had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1989. Along with all her other fears about treatment, survival and that future of her husband and two young children, Anne experienced something more, an overwhelming sense of isolation. She quickly realised that this was an all too common experience among cancer patients, and became determined to fill the void.

With the help and encouragement of some of the leading experts in the field of oncology, Anne worked with family, friends and supporters to establish Wellspring, a non-profit organization offering psychological, emotional, social and informational support to individuals and families living with cancer.

Anne’s vision for Wellspring was to create a Canada-wide network of community-based centres that would provide people with the tools they require to cope with cancer. In 1992, Wellspring opened its first centre, The Coach House, on Wellesley Street East in Toronto. In 1999 Wellspring launched its second centre, in north Toronto, on the campus of Sunnybrook Hospital. In 2009 a Wellspring satellite location was opened at Women’s College Hospital.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Wellspring benefits from the strong support and continued professional input of an outstanding group of oncology clinicians, researchers, and allied health professionals who volunteer their time and expertise, on Board Committees, to help Wellspring to maintain its standards of excellence in cancer supportive care.

Recognition of Wellspring’s rigorous Quality Review Process as a benchmark for organizational excellence, by a team of oncology and evaluation experts, has helped Wellspring to establish itself as a credible and trusted partner within the oncology sector. An article in the peer-reviewed Journal for Healthcare Quality, praises Wellspring’s Quality Review Process, as a unique and praise-worthy component of an overall commitment to continuous quality assurance.

Growth in demand for Wellspring’s programs and services in each year of operations has been significant and, in 2009 alone, more that 20,000 visits were registered at the two Toronto centres alone. Much of Wellspring’s ability to meet this demand resides with its strong and loyal volunteer base. There are 200 trained volunteers who work regular shifts in one of the two downtown locations each year, many of whom have been with the organization since its inception. This is the best accolade of all.

In 2002, Wellspring established its Centre of Innovation, which has fostered some of the most innovative cancer support programs available anywhere in Canada, and continues to maintain the highest standards of operations at all levels of the organization.

Programs

>Cancer Exercise
>Return to Work
>Nourish

Across its network of centres, Wellspring offers over 50 different programs providing psychological and emotional support, as well as coping skills and information, at no charge, primarily to individuals and families living with cancer, as well as their caregivers, loved ones, support persons, and health care professionals. Individuals of all ages and from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, come to Wellspring to learn about cancer, find emotional support, and develop coping skills.

Wellspring programs provide people with a variety of unique mechanisms for coping with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and its impact on patients, family members (including children) and professional caregivers. In addition to one-to-one peer support, each centre offers support groups and coping skills programs that aid in stress management. Short-term counselling, bereavement support and educational workshops on specific topics of interest to members are also provided on a regular basis. All programs are offered in a welcoming and home-like environment, and confidentiality is assured.

In addition to registering more than 33,500 visits each year, Wellspring has adopted a broader community role by initiating research projects, participating in and advising on community health projects, and working in partnership with other agencies and institutions to promote healthy behaviours, educate about cancer prevention, and improve the quality of life for patients, their family members, children, and support persons.

Cancer Exercise

Designed for patients at any stage of cancer treatment, Wellspring’s ground-breaking Cancer Exercise program has received praise from healthcare professionals as providing the best possible vehicle for the promotion of healthy behaviour.

The comprehensive evidence-based and professionally-led Cancer Exercise program has three components:

1. Individual Assessment: Patients meet with a trained Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist to develop a personalized exercise program. Different fitness levels, cancers and individual needs are all taken into account in developing individualized exercise plans. A doctor’s approval of the plan is required.

2. Ten-Week Program: Participants attend two one-hour sessions each week for ten weeks in a group setting.

3. Home Exercise Plan and Reassessment: Following the ten-week group session, individuals are discharged with a personalized exercise plan they can follow at home. Follow-up appointments are set up for six months after the discharge date to track progress and adjust home exercise plans if necessary.

One of the reasons for the success of Cancer Exercise is that participants can easily continue the program independently. All that is needed is a good pair of walking shoes.  This program is conveniently located at the downtown Toronto Odette House location and will also be running at the north Toronto Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook location.

Funding and Program Partners

Sun Life Financial Inc. has provided funding for the Cancer Exercise program at Wellspring Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook.

Program Impact

Recent medical research clearly indicates that exercise is a critical tool in the recuperative process for cancer patients. Exercise has been shown to reduce a patient’s level of fatigue, depression and anxiety, and to lessen cancer- and treatment-related symptoms . Some studies even indicate that exercise can help to significantly reduce the chance of recurrence for people who have survived a cancer diagnosis. One landmark study showed that exercising just five to eight hours per week can reduce the rate of breast cancer recurrence by 50%. Even the highly touted drug Tamoxifen only decreases the recurrence rate by 40% .

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

"One quarter (25.5%) of Torontonians indicate that they are sometimes or often limited from participation in activities by disability or illness."

"1,316,000 people (58%) report that they are inactive during leisure time, including 38.9% of youth (almost 94,000 12-19 year olds)"

Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009

Participant Vignette

“This program saved me. I was at an all time low emotionally and physically. The support, guidance and encouragement was exactly what I needed. I believe rehabilitation is as important as an accurate diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. I am so pleased my doctor encouraged me to pursue this. I only wish I could stay in the program longer. Thank you for the opportunity to participate, to improve my sense of well-being and to gain back strength and my ability to walk and move.”

~Cancer Exercise program participant

Return to Work

Wellspring’s Return to Work program helps employees cope with their return to work post-cancer. Returning to work after cancer can be terrifying, as fatigue, reduced mobility, and medical appointments can significantly impact one’s ability to work. Cancer patients worry about career choices, productivity, and managing their disease in the workplace. The Return to Work program makes no judgement about whether or not it is the right decision for a cancer patient to return to work, but seeks to help guide cancer patients through the difficult decision making process. Wellspring recruits Program Leaders who are all specialists in vocational rehabilitation and income benefits, have extensive experience in adult learning and psychosocial support group work, and have experience working with cancer patients. The program provides education, negotiation skills and support for patients and survivors. Information is also provided on government benefits and the legal rights and responsibilities of both the employee and the employer.  This program is conveniently located at both the downtown Toronto Odette House location and at the north Toronto Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook location.

Program Impact

Over 330,000 Canadians of working age will be diagnosed with cancer in the next five years. The majority will return to work post-cancer . Up to one-third may have short-term cognitive deficits, resulting from chemotherapy treatments and the physical and emotional stress of cancer and its treatments.

Wellspring’s Return to Work program will help cancer patients to return to work in a productive capacity.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“In 2008, only about one in four unemployed workers (23%) in the Toronto area were receiving EI (a decrease of 59% from 1990 when just over half of unemployed workers received EI benefits."

"Social assistance recipients in Ontario are particularly vulnerable to ill health. They are significantly more likely to have diabetes, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, mood and anxiety disorders, even when other factors, such as educational attainment, smoking, physical activity and disability status are taken into account. One in ten considered suicide in the twelve months preceding the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. Suicide attempts were 10 times higher for that group than for those not living with poverty.”

Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009

Participant Vignette

”[This program] allowed me to recognize my strength when faced with challenges. It allowed me to articulate my concerns and figure out how to address them…[and how to] develop a plan and how to successfully execute it. I thought it was great! I have recommended it to other survivors. The social aspect was great, and also reminded me again that I am not alone -- we all face the same fears and anxieties related to returning to work.”

Nourish

Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of self-care for individuals affected by cancer. Caregivers also often ask questions about proper nutrition, both for themselves and for their loved ones. Side effects of disease and treatment may include weight loss, loss of appetite, sore mouth or throat, dental issues, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and fatigue. Eating a well-balanced diet before, during and after treatment can help cancer patients feel better, improve and maintain strength and energy, decrease risk of infection and manage side effects. 

Wellspring’s Nourish program helps cancer patients and their caregivers to learn about what to eat, what to avoid and how to prepare nutritious foods in a way that is palatable when they don’t feel like eating. The program also teaches participants about the truth behind health food claims.  Due to the newly constructed and specially designed teaching kitchen facility, this program will be running out of the running at the North Toronto Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook location.

Funding and Program Partners

The Government of Ontario, Ministry of Health Promotion’s Healthy Communities Fund has provided funding for this program.

Program Impact

Over the course of 2009 and 2010 to date, Wellspring centres have hosted 14 educational sessions on nutrition, with over 300 attendees. The aim of the Nourish program is to impart members with enhanced capacity to choose and prepare foods that reduce their risk of reoccurrence, and improve their overall health, energy and well-being, in a comprehensive format. As part of the Wellspring Nourish program, members will be given a wide variety of resources and recipes to take home with them following a program, to promote their ability to practice the skills they have learned in the Wellspring kitchen at home. These include:

• Canada’s Food Guide
• American Institute for Cancer Research
• Canadian Cancer Society booklets
• Healthy recipes

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

"44% of Torontonians (18 years and over) self-report that they are overweight or obese (a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or higher). 13.4% of those (614,777 people) are obese (a BMI of 30 or more), a rise from 11.5% in 2007."

"Only 38.8% of Toronto residents eat 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day."

Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009

Participant Vignette

Feedback on currently offered nutrition sessions –

“What about [having] cooking lectures each season?…what about a lecture on foods that prevent cancer?”

“[I] would love to see more of these classes…a cooking class for cancer patients and their caregivers, who are going through chemo or radiation treatments.”

“Great class! I am always looking for new recipes to try for continued healthy eating.”

“Great program! My only suggestion is to have it more often at Wellspring. This is absolutely my favourite program offered by Wellspring. I have learned so much new helpful information from these sessions.”

“Have a regular series of informative nutrition classes relating to cancer, please.”