Pediatric Hospice
Pediatric Hospice is a special kind of care that focuses on the quality of life for children of all ages who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness. This care focuses on enhancing quality of life, minimizing suffering, optimizing function and providing opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Hospice care provides compassionate care for the last phases of an incurable disease process so that a child may live as fully and comfortably as possible. Care is planned and delivered through the collaborative efforts of an interdisciplinary team with the child and their family.
What is the goal of pediatric hospice?
The goal of pediatric hospice is to improve a child and their families quality of life. At Sanctuary Hospice, we understand that this can look different for everyone. For some families, their goal is to get the child comfortable enough to perform daily activities, or attend school. For others, it may be able to alleviate pain so the child can enjoy the sunshine or eat their favorite foods.
Customized For You
We understand everyone‘s hospice situation is different, so we make sure to customize your care plan to fit your individual needs.
Concurrent Care
We work hand in hand with physicians. Both curative and hospice treatment are embraced, providing concurrent care for the patient.
Family Focused
Pediatric Hospice care is family-centered. We value listening to our patients and supporting and educating their loved ones when making decisions.
When is pediatric hospice needed?
A child who is in need of hospice care is facing a condition, birth complications, or illness that is limiting their ability to thrive and their prognisis is declining. Pediatric Hospice guides the child and their family through the transition as the disease or illness progresses. Patients receive the best results the earlier comfort care starts. That way, our hospice team can anticipate and addresses patient and family needs before they become problematic. In general, hospice care should be used when a child is expected to live about 12 months or less if the illness runs its usual course. The hope is that hospice contributes to a quality life, making the best of each day during the last stages of advanced illness.
Here are some reasons your child may need hospice care:
Overall decline in health, worsening fatigue
Reduced desire to eat, unintentional weight loss
Frequent ER visits or hospitalizations
Increased symptoms: pain, shortness of breath, nausea
Increased dependence on family members
Here are some common diagnosis for children who need hospice care:
Complications from prematurity
Childhood cancer
Serious injury
Neurodegenerative disease
Respiratory conditions
Developmental disorders
Nutritional deficiencies
Our Pediatric Hospice Services
We know the task of obtaining an at-home pediatric healthcare provider can be daunting. You want someone who not only has kindness and compassion, but whose skills and knowledge is exceptional. And beyond that- you want someone who can create a trusting bond with your family.
From drawing blood to administrating medications, our providers have extensive experience working with children. Our team can provide the following pediatric hospice services:
Pediatric Hospice Nursing & Aids
Family Support and Therapy
Providing Concurrent Care
Under the Affordable Care Act, children with life-threatening health problems who are enrolled in Medi-Cal can get both curative treatment and hospice care simultaneously. This is called concurrent care.
While hospice care focuses on the quality of life, Curative Care focuses on aggressive treatments to manage a health condition. Examples of curative treatment can range from medicine to fight an infection to chemotherapy to fight cancer. There is an understanding that the curative care provided will likely not cure the illness but will assist with the management of disease process and aide in prolonging life.
With Concurrent Care, all providers work cohesively to increase the quality of life for the child and their family. Medicare and Medi-Cal pay for 100% of hospice services for those who qualify. Many private insurance plans also cover concurrent care; however, benefits vary per policy and will often require authorization. Our staff will work with the patient’s insurance company to coordinate benefits.
Is your child in need of hospice care?
To learn if you or a loved one could benefit from hospice care services call (916) 671-3017 or email us at info@sanctuary-hospice.com for a consultation.
From staff to patients, we care
If you’re interested in learning more about Sanctuary Home Hospice, send us a message. Our team is here to answer any questions or address any concerns. Whether you’re looking to explore career opportunities or are in need of service, we can provide the guidance you need.