Inova’s Life With Cancer Unveils New Family Center

Home-like Environment Will Assist with Coping and Comfort of Cancer Patients and Their Families; Home Features Library, Art Studio and Counseling

Falls Church, VA – (March 30, 2009) — Inova Health System’s Life with Cancer® will offer media tours of its new Dewberry Family Center, a free-standing resource center for cancer patients and their families. The new 16,000-square-foot facility combines the comforts of home with a place for cancer education and support of cancer patients and survivors at no additional cost. It is the only health system affiliated resource center of its kind in the Northern Virginia region. A dedication ceremony will be held April 7th.

WHAT:
Media Tour of the new Dewberry Life with Cancer® Family Center

WHEN:
Monday, April 6th
11 a.m.-1 p.m.

WHERE:
8411 Pennell St.
Fairfax, Va.

The new Center offers a state-of-the-art medical library, eight private and group counseling rooms, children’s and adult art therapy studios, a large exercise room for classes specifically designed for cancer patients, a reflection garden with a waterfall and a large dine-in kitchen for healthy eating cooking demonstrations.

“This new Family Center allows us to continue our work in a comforting, soothing and healing environment outside the confines of a hospital,” said Gordon Hay, Director, Life with Cancer. “Inova’s Life with Cancer program is pleased to offer this outstanding new facility to patients battling cancer, their families and survivors as a home away from home.”

Partially funded by the generosity of patients, survivors and community members, the Center will offer support groups for visitors choosing to discuss their diagnosis, fear or grief with others or one-on-one with trained counselors.

For more than 20 years, Life with Cancer has offered support groups, exercise classes, nutrition programs, art therapy and outreach throughout Northern Virginia.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.