Care Partner Support

What kinds of support can a care partner provide?

Healthcare Support

Recognize and respond to emergencies and urgent situations
Record and report information as instructed by the healthcare team
Ask questions and take notes at health appointments
Ensure the patient is taking medications as prescribed

Practical

Ensure the patient has a care partner plan in place as instructed by the healthcare team
Assist the patient in getting to and from all appointments
Ensure the patient has all required medications and refill prescriptions as necessary
Keep family members and friends up to date

Emotional

Listen closely and communicate openly
Pay attention to the patient's mood and feelings, and contact the healthcare team if you are worried about their emotional state
Reassure the patient and help keep their spirits high

How can a care partner take care of the patient?

The care partner role is typically minimal until treatment steps begin, unless the patient specifically requests support.

Throughout the process, these are some points of help that may be needed:

Provide or help arrange transportation for the patient to appointments
Attend treatment and follow-up appointments
Come prepared with questions, take notes, and track future appointments
Prepare things to help the patient be more comfortable during longer appointments, such as a snack or drink, and a blanket in case it is cold

What can the care partner do during each step
of the CAR T cell therapy process?

Step 1: Your Consultation

The patient is evaluated to see if CAR T is an appropriate treatment option. Evaluation may include blood tests, body scans, breathing tests and more.

Ensure the patient has transportation to and from the  consult appointment 
Attend the appointment if needed

Step 2: Before Treatment

The patient’s blood will be drawn and cells collected in a ~2.5 hour procedure called apheresis. Then the cells will be sent to a lab to become their personalized CAR T cell therapy.

Ensure the patient has transportation to and from the apheresis appointment 
After apheresis, the patient may be advised to take it easy for a day or so, and you should help monitor for any symptoms or side effects
While they wait for their CAR T cells to be manufactured, you may encourage the patient to spend time with family and friends or enjoy their hobbies 
If the patient requires treatment while their CAR T cells are being manufactured, ask the medical team about what support they may need

Step 3: Treatment

To help prepare their body for their CAR T cells to be infused, the patient will receive low-dose chemotherapy. A few days later, the patient will receive their CAR T cell therapy through an infusion.

When the patient is in treatment, they are cared for by their treatment team. Since this may take a few hours, this may be a good time for you to do something for yourself like take a walk, read, or relax

Step 4: After Treatment

Close monitoring will be needed just after the patient receives their CAR T cell therapy. After this short-term monitoring period, the patient will require longer term monitoring and their follow up visits will likely decrease.

The treatment team may require you to be available and close to the CAR T treatment center during and for some time after the patient’s CAR T treatment
Once the patient is released from the treatment center, you should monitor the patient for symptoms and side effects and reach out to the healthcare team or emergency services as needed