Who is eligible to stay at a Hope Lodge?
In general, Hope Lodge is available to patients and caregivers actively undergoing cancer treatment on an outpatient basis. Patients must live at least 40 miles or a one-hour drive time away from the treatment facility. Priority is given to patients needing three or more nights of lodging. Patients must be at least 18 years old (exceptions are made at some locations) and be independently mobile in the event of an emergency. Patients are not screened for any financial or demographic criteria. Please visit the page for your desired location for complete eligibility criteria.
How much does it cost to stay at Hope Lodge?
There is no cost to stay at any American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
What kind of environment can I expect at Hope Lodge?Hope Lodge offers private guest rooms and bathrooms. Each facility is designed for a shared experience in every other aspect of life. Lodges feature common areas, including full kitchens, laundry facilities, cancer resource rooms, and areas for quiet reflection. Hope Lodge is a place where you can count on emotional support from other patients and caregivers who also are undergoing treatment. Guests rally around each other, building life-affirming connections and lifetime friendships.
Do I need a caregiver in order to stay at Hope Lodge?
It is strongly recommended that each patient have a caregiver. Bone marrow transplant and brain cancer patients and guests in wheelchairs are required to have a caregiver with them at all times. Some Hope Lodge locations require every patient to have a caregiver. For those that don’t, a signed physician’s consent letter stating that the patient is mobile, able to stay alone, and care for himself or herself is required. Please visit the page for your desired location to learn more.
As a guest, what should I bring with me to Hope Lodge?
Each Hope Lodge provides many of the conveniences of home, including alarm clocks, linens, tissues and toilet paper, plates and silverware, and other kitchen items. Guests are responsible for their own toiletries, hairdryers, clothing, and food. Before your stay, please visit the page for your desired location for a list of items you’ll need to bring. This may save you from packing items the lodge already provides.
What is the average length of stay?
The average length of stay for patients and caregivers is six to eight weeks.
How many people have been served by the Hope Lodge network?
In 2007, more than 18,000 patients, caregivers, and family members stayed at American Cancer Society Hope Lodge locations, saving nearly $19 million in hotel expenses alone.
How are Hope Lodge locations funded?
Donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations provide the necessary funds for Hope Lodge expenses, allowing patients and caregivers to stay free of charge.
Hope Lodge locations also accept in-kind donations, and wish lists of needed items are located on each lodge’s page. If you wish to make a donation online, please visit the page for your desired location
When was the first Hope Lodge founded?
Founded by Margot Freudenberg, the first Hope Lodge opened in 1970 in Charleston, S.C.