Our Services
Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) Clinic
The James Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) Clinic at The James Outpatient Care provides a full range of services for older adults who have been diagnosed with any type or stage of cancer. The CARE Clinic helps identify age-related needs common with cancer patients. Individuals age 65+ can be seen at any point in their journey, including at diagnosis, during treatment or after treatment.
The following are provided:
- Audiology: An audiologist will meet with you to discuss hearing loss/needs. Older adults are more likely to have hearing loss than younger adults.
- Memory/cognition: A cognitive assessment that is designed to comprehensively test for any memory or concentration changes
- Medicine review: A pharmacist will provide an in-depth medicine and vitamin/supplement review, noting any possible interactions and any other concerns such as possible medicine side effects.
- Nutrition evaluation: A registered dietitian will discuss your current diet, vitamins/supplements, appetite, caloric needs and any barriers you may have to eating or drinking (e.g., difficulty swallowing).
- Physical therapy: A physical therapist will develop a plan to help you promote movement, reduce pain, restore function and prevent falls or disability.
- Caregiver, financial or home-safety concerns: You will be seen by a social worker to review any needs you may have at home, problems with transportation or financial (money) stresses.
- Health-related quality-of-life needs: Patients are seen by a doctor to talk about any quality-of-life concerns and what matters most to you in living your best life possible.
What to expect during your first CARE Clinic visit
During your initial clinic visit, the team will review your health history, and you’ll meet with experts from different medical specialties. This comprehensive appointment lasts about three hours and helps us create a personalized care plan just for you.
As one of only 11 cancer centers nationwide with an “Age-Friendly Health System” designation, the OSUCCC — James will focus on any specific concerns you have, as well as the “four M’s”:
- Mobility
- What Matters
- Medication
- Mentation
To get the most from this visit, please write down and bring with you a list of:
- Any questions you have – you can ask us anything
- All medications you’re currently taking (name/dosage/purpose)
- Any symptoms you’re experiencing
We also encourage you to bring someone with you. Loved ones often have their own concerns and we’re happy to answer their questions too.
CARE – Palliative Clinic
The CARE – Palliative (CARE – Pall) clinic is a special clinic within The James Cancer Hospital that combines the expertise of both geriatric and palliative care to improve the quality of life for older adults who have a serious or life-limiting illness such as cancer.
The purpose of the CARE – Pall clinic is to help manage symptoms and concerns (emotional, social, practical and spiritual) that may be more common with increasing age or caused by cancer or its treatment. Our goal is to partner with you to improve your daily function during cancer treatment and design care plans that help you:
- Manage and reduce symptoms, including pain, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite and difficulty walking
- Decrease risk of falling or memory loss
- Reduce anxiety and depression and improve your overall mental health
- Address any medication issues or concerns, including side effects, dosage and interactions
- Make medical decisions that best align your treatment options with your personal goals
BreastCARE Clinic
The James Breast CARE Clinic at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center provides a full range of services for older adults age 70+ who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Patients can be seen at any point in their journey – at diagnosis, during treatment or after treatment.
Patient and family resources
Our James cancer and aging (or geriatric oncology) experts collaborate with JamesCare for Life to offer “Ask the Expert” programs.
- These programs provide information on a variety of cancer topics and focus on the unique experiences, side effects and coping strategies specific to older adults with cancer and their caregivers.
Education
Learn more about the medical education initiatives at Ohio State that highlight the unique needs of older patients.
Research – help us improve care for older adults with cancer
The internationally recognized medical research specialists and subspecialists at the OSUCCC – James initiate, lead and conduct meaningful, advanced and in-depth scientific studies to enhance diagnosis and treatment techniques and continually develop new leading-edge approaches to cancer care for older adults.
The Oncogeriatrics Program also includes a strong translational research effort to study the process of aging and how it impacts a person’s ability to tolerate cancer treatments.
Additionally, this team is dedicated to translational science, and we partner with leading scientists in the field of aging including Christin Burd, PhD, and Jessica Krok-Schoen, PhD. Our experts are focused on improving health outcomes of older adults with cancer.
Our locations
(Note: parking information is included with each location).
CARE Clinic
The James Outpatient Care
2121 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43221
614-685-0050
BreastCARE
Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center
1145 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, OH 43212
614-293-0066
CARE – Palliative (CARE – Pall)
The James Outpatient Care
2121 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43221
614-685-0050
Explore the Campus-Area Bus Service (CABS), including The James Parking Shuttle and other Patient Courtesy Shuttles.
The James Cancer-Free World Podcast
The James Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) Clinic is a world leader in treating older cancer patients. In this episode, Carolyn Presley, MD, the CARE co-director, explains the need for the clinic, the "all-in-one" services it offers patients and several clinical trials aimed at improving the outcomes and quality of life for older cancer patients.