American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Family Caregiving: The Essential Guide to Cancer Caregiving at Home

Peter S. Houts, PhD, is a retired professor of behavioral science at Penn State University College of Medicine. A social psychologist, Dr. Houts has conducted research for more than twenty-five years on how cancer patients cope with their illness. He has developed and evaluated innovative interventions to help cancer patients and their family caregivers cope with illness. He has also directed surveys focusing on the problems and unmet needs of people dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Houts was a co-developer of the psychoeducational COPE Model, which is widely used in applying problem-solving techniques to cope with illness. He continues to mentor colleagues and act as a consultant on research dealing with applying problem-solving education and counseling to health care. Dr. Houts is coauthor of numerous publications on caring for cancer patients and helping those dealing with cancer to cope with it effectively. Julia A. Bucher RN, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Nursing at York College of Pennsylvania, where she teaches Community Health Nursing. Her previous experience includes caring for people with cancer at home and helping their families as a cancer clinical nurse specialist. She has designed and evaluated several types of supportive community services to help people with cancer and their families cope. Dr. Bucher uses a problem-solving approach to teach students and families how to deal with problems using a focused, step-by-step approach. She received her PhD in community systems planning and development from Penn State in 1992 and has been affiliated with the American Cancer Society for several decades as a volunteer, statewide planner, and data manager. She is dedicated to making life easier for those facing the cancer challenge. Terri Ades, DNP, FNP-BC, AOCN is director of Cancer Information for the American Cancer Society National Home Office in Atlanta. In this position, she oversees the development and maintenance of the Society’s cancer information that is available through the Society’s Web site, toll-free call center, patient education/consumer awareness materials, and translations. Dr. Ades is an oncology clinician and expert in health literacy. She is certified as an advanced practice oncology nurse and family nurse practitioner. She is an Adjunct Faculty member of Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory Healthcare where she continues in clinical practice in the Hematology Outpatient Clinic at Grady.