Making sense of the cancer journey: Pediatric cancer survivors' and their parents' autobiographical memories.

PURPOSE: Youth diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and their caregiver's experience a myriad of challenges in all domains of health that extend beyond treatment. Yet, little is known about how the cancer experience, and recollections associated with the experience, impact survivorship. We explored pediatric ALL survivors' and their caregivers' autobiographical memories of the cancer experience from diagnosis onwards. METHODS: Survivors of ALL, and one of their caregivers, were recruited through a local clinic. Survivors and their caregivers completed a demographic survey and semi-structured, private, one-on-one interviews. Demographic information were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis at the level of the individual and dyad. RESULTS: Insights from survivors (N = 19; Mage = 15.3 years) and their caregivers (n = 19; Mage = 45.4 years) were captured. Analyses generated two themes contingent on role (i.e., survivor or caregiver): (1) It is hard to recall my cancer experience and (2) We did as much as we could to manage our child's cancer experience and two unified themes (present in both survivors and their caregivers): (3) It took a village to get through the cancer experience and (4) The cancer diagnosis and experience has had a lasting impact. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the varied and long-lasting ways cancer impacts survivors of pediatric ALL and their caregivers. Survivors had difficultly remembering their experience or felt that information was withheld and were acutely aware of their caregiver's distress. Caregivers were cautious and intentionally limited the information they shared. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Survivors desired to be included within, or told about, decisions related to their healthcare and were acutely aware of their caregiver's distress. Efforts should be made to communicate with survivors (from diagnosis onward) openly and to consider strategies to minimize the short- and long-term impacts of pediatric ALL among survivors and their caregivers.

Exploring staff's views on the implementation of intergenerational playgroups in care homes.

BACKGROUND: Intergenerational playgroups are a formalised way of bringing together older people and young children to 'play and interact'. They can facilitate social interaction and reduce loneliness for older people living in care homes. Although interest in intergenerational playgroups is increasing, there is a lack of research into their implementation. AIM: To explore staff's views on the implementation of intergenerational playgroups in care homes for older people. METHOD: A qualitative method was adopted. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were undertaken with ten members of staff working in four care homes in a range of roles. FINDINGS: Participants considered intergenerational playgroups to be low-cost interventions with benefits for residents, children, parents or carers and the community. However, there did not appear to be a standardised format or guidance for implementing and delivering the intervention and participants felt that they received little support from colleagues or from executive leadership teams. CONCLUSION: To support the effective implementation and the sustainability of intergenerational playgroups in care homes, there is a need to educate care home staff about their benefits and to develop guidance and national policies.