Unique aspects of caring for dying children and their families

Parents’ and Children's Perspectives of a Children's Hospice Bereavement Program

The provision of some form of bereavement services is an integral part of any pediatric hospice program. The Canuck Place hospice program has offered bereavement services since it began in 1995. A mixed-method evaluation of the impact of the Canuck Place program on the families it served during its first two-and-a-half years of operation was conducted. The bereavement services reviewed included follow-up care for families, and bereavement support groups for children and their parents. Eight children were interviewed in the initial phase, and nine completed a survey questionnaire; 28 parents rated their level of satisfaction with various aspects of their experience with the parent support group. Findings indicated that the follow-up component of the program was well-received by family members. When assessing their group experiences, children and parents most appreciated the support and understanding they received, the freedom to express themselves, a diminished sense of isolation, and the normalization of their emotions. Practical considerations when offering bereavement support groups are discussed in this paper.

Factors Associated With the Use of U.S. Community-Based Palliative Care for Children With Life-Limiting or Life-Threatening Illnesses and Their Families: An Integrative Review

CONTEXT

As children with life-limiting illnesses (LLIs) and life-threatening illnesses (LTIs) live longer, challenges to meeting their complex health care needs arise in homes and communities, as well as in hospitals. Integrated knowledge regarding community-based pediatric palliative care (CBPPC) is needed to strategically plan for a seamless continuum of care for children and their families.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this integrative review article is to explore factors that are associated with the use of CBPPC for U.S. children with LLIs and LTIs and their families.

METHODS

A literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, and an ancestry search was performed to identify empirical studies and program evaluations published between 2000 and 2016. The methodological protocol included an evaluation of empirical quality and explicit data collection of synthesis procedures.

RESULTS

Forty peer-reviewed quantitative and qualitative methodological interdisciplinary articles were included in the final sample. Patient characteristics such as older age and a solid tumor cancer diagnosis and interpersonal factors such as family support were associated with higher CBPPC use. Organizational features were the most frequently discussed factors that increased CBPPC, including the importance of interprofessional hospice services and interorganizational care coordination for supporting the child and family at home. Finally, geography, concurrent care and hospice eligibility regulations, and funding and reimbursement mechanisms were associated with CBPPC use on a community and systemic level.

CONCLUSION

Multilevel factors are associated with increased CBPPC use for children with LLIs or LTIs and their families in the U.S.

The Effect of Pediatric Knowledge on Hospice Care Costs

The cost of hospice care is rising. Although providing care for children at end of life may be costly for hospices, it is unclear whether or not gaining pediatric knowledge and even establishing a pediatric program may be done cost effectively. The purpose of our study was to examine the effect of possessing pediatric knowledge (i.e., pediatric program, pediatric experience) on core hospice care costs. Using 2002 to 2008 California hospice data, the findings of the regression analysis suggest that having pediatric knowledge does not significantly increase nursing, physician, and medical social service costs. Having a pediatric program was related to increased counseling costs. Our findings shed important light on the minimal costs incurred when hospices decide to develop pediatric knowledge.

An educational program in a pediatric hospice setting

Canuck Place Children's Hospice, a family-centered pediatric hospice in Vancouver, Canada, provides family support and respite, pain and symptom management, and end-of-life care. One of the goals of pediatric hospice palliative care is to create an environment that supports a normal way of life and enhances quality of life. At Canuck Place, a unique school program for children with progressive life-threatening illnesses has been set up to meet this goal. This article describes the Canuck Place educational program, gives insights into the importance and challenges of providing a complete school experience, and discusses the expanded role of the teacher in the pediatric hospice setting.

Building a case for neonatal palliative care

The concept of palliative care, well recognized in the adult population, has not been fully implemented in the pediatric population. Yet there is an urgent need to define and provide excellence in end-of-life care for infants and their families. Beneficent end-of-life care for the dying neonate includes efforts directed at comfort care, assistance with end-of-life decision making, and bereavement support. Through research and education, the challenges to implementing neonatal palliative care programs can be overcome. This article describes the components of neonatal palliative care, identifies the challenges associated wiith the implementation of such programs, and proposes strategies for addressing these challenges.