How Wellist Can Help You?

14 Jan How Wellist Can Help You?

Posted at 09:44h in Caregiving, Partners, Practical Tips by Triage Cancer

Is it possible to be prepared for a cancer diagnosis?

Even with the best doctors using the latest research to help, life becomes more complicated.

There are the obvious lifestyle complications, like appointments to get to, prescriptions to be filled, and symptoms to be monitored–the things that make up the “medical” part of a diagnosis.

But then there is the impact that cancer has on one’s day-to-day life. Tasks that once were easy, like picking up around the house, cooking a family dinner, or shoveling the steps after another snowy winter, are suddenly overwhelming. The to-do list can pile up, leaving patients and their families feeling flat out exhausted and stretched thin.

In fact, unmet social needs drive “as much as 40% of health outcomes.”

That’s where Wellist comes in.

Every day, we see people shoulder this incredible burden without enough support. This is the reason Wellist, an online directory of 3,500+ services in the greater Boston area and about 600 services available nation-wide, exists. We also understand that in times of challenge, finances can be tight. Wellist is completely free to use thanks to our clients, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Quest Diagnostics.

Our users are unique and diverse. We’ve helped young mothers who have just been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer find someone to watch their kids after school. We’ve helped men living alone find someone to mow the lawn, and we’ve helped daughters who no longer live with their parents make sure Mom and Dad are eating properly and that the house is kept clean. No matter what your story is, we have solutions to help.

“I don't want to ask my friends to clean my house but it’s what I really need,” is a phrase we hear over and over again. On the other hand, friends and family desperately want to help, but usually don’t know quite what to do. Our solution is the Wellistry, a shareable gift registry, that allows patients to make a list of what services would be most helpful and share it with others who want to help.