TABLE 1.

CARE intervention session topics, themes, and outline

Session	Topic	Theme	Outline
1	Cancer story and overview	Learn about the patient’s cancer story and introduce patient to the session themes and process. Developmental task: life review	1. Introductions: therapist and patient 2. Overview (treatment goals, logistics) 3. Overview of five sessions (review member handbook) 4. Explore patient’s experiences of cancer and aging 5. Wrap-up (review session 1, overview of session 2, and homework ideas)
2	Coping with cancer and aging	Dealing with the combined challenges of illness and aging. Developmental tasks: concern of life in the face of death; struggle to accept the inalterability of the past and unknowable future	1. Brief review of session 1 and review of homework ideas (if completed) 2. Introduce session 2 topics: -Topic A: coping with the losses and benefits of cancer and aging -Topic B: fears and concerns about the future 3. Define problems/challenges re: topics A and B 4. Explore guided questions re: topics A and B 5. Assess ways of reappraisal 6. Wrap-up (review session 2, introduce session 3 and homework ideas)
3	Loneliness and the stigma of cancer and aging	Loneliness and reduced social circles in later years. Developmental task: social connections; link between the past and the present	1. Brief review of session 2 and review homework ideas (if completed) 2. Introduce session 3 topic: -Loneliness, cancer, and aging 3. Define problems/challenges re: session topic 4. Explore guided questions 5. Wrap-up (review session 3, introduce session 4 and homework ideas)
4	Making peace with one’s life	Coming to terms with “who I am now.” Developmental task: making peace with one’s life as a unified whole; achieve a sense of wisdom through life’s experience and lessons; “keeper of meaning”	1. Brief review of session 3 and homework ideas (if completed) 2. Introduce session 4 topics -Topic A: making peace with one’s life -Topic B: acquiring wisdom 3. Define problems/challenges re: topics A and B 4. Explore guided questions re: topics A and B 5. Wrap-up (review session 4, introduce session 5 and homework ideas)
5	Reflection and review	Summarize and review treatment themes: developmental task: social connections; link between the past and the present; making peace with one’s life as a unified whole; achieve a sense of wisdom through life’s experience and lessons; “ keeper of meaning”	1. Explore patient’s thoughts/feelings re: termination 2. Brief review of sessions 4 and 5 topics 3. Patient’s feedback re: general intervention (ie, what has it been like for you to participate in this process? Do you have a better understanding of ways to cope with and reappraise difficult situations re: aging and cancer? If so, how? Have there been any changes in the way you view your life?) 4. Reflection on overall experience. Express appreciation for participation and say goodbyes.