Children & Hospice KidsCare Program
Caring for the Grieving Child
Discussing death is difficult for anyone. Our innate tendency is to shelter children from anything frightening or unpleasant. Unfortunately, death is a reality we cannot conceal no matter how young the child. Children in a family where there is a relative with a life limiting illness need to know and be a part of what is happening. In order to make this transition successful, children need to talk, question and cry about an impending death. Lifelong scars can result when death and loss are not adequately addressed.
KidsCare staff utilize a variety of techniques to facilitate a child's understanding of death and help him or her to express feelings. Without this work, the child is left to his or her own imagination which often is fraught with damaging fear and anxiety.
Caring for Children with a Life-threatening Illness
Children are not supposed to suffer or have to cope with a life threatening illness. Nothing in our culture prepares us intellectually or emotionally to see our children do anything but grow and flourish. Nonetheless, thousands of children are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness each year in the United States.
The expertise to manage the physical and emotional needs of these special children is the reason families and health care providers seek the assistance of KidsCare. Managing pain in children is complex. Our nurses consult regularly with your child's physician during treatments, providing appropriate care. Likewise, our social workers utilize play therapy facilitating communication between parent and child to ease fear and anxiety.
Anyone can refer a child to KidsCare. We support parents with their goals and choices for care.
