The Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, MCON, MAHE, Manipal organized a “Caregiver Expectations v/s Reality” session on November 29, 2023, between 03:30 p.m. and 05:30 p.m. through the MS Teams virtual platform as part of the Student Collaboration activity.

Dr. Tony Bewely, Senior Lecturer & Program Coordinator, School of Nursing, Edgehill University, UK, and adjunct faculty MCON introduced the topic and gave an overview regarding the Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, which provides free 'home away from home' accommodation to families while their child is in hospital. She added her experience of being there with her daughter for long-term care. Dr. Radhika R. Pai, Assistant Professor, Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Manipal College Nursing (MCON), MAHE, Manipal, briefed on caregiver involvement in the care of patients in tertiary care hospitals in India. Ms. Annette, the coordinator of Acceslife Manipal, explained the various dimensions of caregiver challenges and the help rendered to take care of children with cancer and ensure the continuation of the treatment. She further explored Manipal AccessLife, which provides a loving and temporary home for the parent or caretaker and the child undergoing cancer treatment. Ms. Jill Evans from Edgehill University narrated the story of her child Noah, who was born with a respiratory disability requiring long-term tracheostomy and ventilation support.

There was interaction between the students and the speakers from both universities while exploring all the caregiving issues in different contexts. Ms. Aarushi Kaushal,  Ms. Gemma Lightfoot, and Ms. Niamh O’Connor coordinated this Student Collaboration Series-10. 

Forty-one participants actively participated in the session (25 from MCON and 16 from Edgehill University).

This initiative contributed to the SDGs, as listed below.

SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing  

SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals