Hospice is for Children, Too

In the U.S., we rarely think about children and teens in the context of end-of-life care. Yet for families facing such heartbreaking situations, compassionate, in-home hospice care can provide peace, dignity, and connection in ways that hospital settings may not. Coastal’s hospice services ensure that individuals of all ages, including children, receive the support they need during their final days.

Why Hospice Care Is Often the Right Choice for Children

Hospice care has been shown to help patients have a more peaceful and fulfilling end-of-life experience, and it also many times allows a patient to live longer. Plus, it gives the family of the hospice patient the ability to receive much-needed help and assistance from nurses, therapists, medical social workers, and more.

If your child is diagnosed with a terminal illness or another life-threatening situation, it’s important to take the time to discuss treatment options. In general, hospice care at home is often the best option for children. If there are other ways to extend your child’s life, such as through palliative care, these options should be explored first. But if these treatments can’t help, then hospice care provides the necessary support and care during their final days in order to create a peaceful transition into death and allow them to spend their final days at home with the people they love.

The goal of hospice care is not only to provide comfort during times of great suffering but also to prepare the patient for their last days by minimizing painful interventions that do little to extend the patient’s life expectancy.

Home Hospice Care for Children

If your child is diagnosed with a terminal condition, you might be wondering if they will be admitted into a hospital. While this may be the appropriate choice in some cases, sometimes allowing your child to stay in their home environment is the best choice for everyone involved. In this way, your child can still have access to their families without being away from them for extended periods of time, especially now with Covid changing how visitors are allowed to interact with patients admitted into hospitals.

Final Words

If your child has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, we are always on standby and ready to help. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 541-469-0405.