The HomeGoods Young Adult Lounge is a space mindfully designed by and for patients over the age of 18. The lounge aims to provide a warm, comfortable, and age-appropriate space for young adult patients to connect and relax before, after, and between appointments and receive young-adult specific resources.
The lounge developed by the Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (CAYAO) and the Young Adult Program (YAP) allows patients to connect with their peers, attend workshops and support groups, and learn more about young adult programs and services.
A Young Adult Patient Navigator is in the lounge and accessible to patients during open hours to host programs in the lounge and ensure patients can access all available resources within and outside of Dana-Farber.
The lounge is designed to provide a sense of calm and inclusion and to serve as a place where patients can take a break from the clinical environment. It includes comfortable chairs and couches, a table island where you can work or connect with others, charging stations for mobile devices, iPads on loan, and a large screen to watch TV or play video games. Some areas of the lounge are more private for those who want a quiet place to nap or relax. Coffee, tea, and light snacks are also offered at the Hearth area, a grab-and-go café designed in honor of Dana-Farber patient, Cleo Athena Theodoropulos.
The HomeGoods Young Adult Lounge was made possible largely by donations from generous HomeGoods shoppers and the TJX Foundation. Initial funding for the space was provided by the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation in collaboration with The Skating Club of Boston and the friends of Cleo Athena Theodoropulos. Special thanks to Teen Cancer America for their support of CAYAO and guidance on this concept.
Email: yap@dfci.harvard.edu
IAYA app: iaya is designed to build an engaged, supportive community for young adults with cancer or blood disorders who are receiving care at Dana-Farber.
