INTRODUCTION
Very special Kids (VSK) provides support to children from ages 0-18 with life limiting conditions and their entire family from diagnosis to bereavement. With a dedicated professional interdisciplinary team VSK is home to Victoria’s only Childrens Hospice, providing respite, end-of-life, and after death care to children. The need for a child and family centered approach that focuses on physical, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual needs is essential. This holistic approach continues after the death of a child recognizing that this event can be described as the worst experience a parent can endure.
AIM
This presentation will explore the significance of using a flexible and responsive approach to after-death care in a paediatric hospice environment and the effect it has on the family.
APPROACH
We will review and share a variety of case studies from our experience of supporting families that have used our hospice after the death of their child. We will explore how the after-death care experience impacts families and discuss implications for future practice.
FINDINGS
Care does not stop after a child dies. Caring for a child’s body is a unique and critical part of the comprehensive nursing care provided in the hospice. Examples of care include memory making, bathing, and working alongside families at a pace that is set by them. Offering choices and supporting their wishes provides a lasting impact, and can assist families navigate the complexities of their bereavement journey.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
Every family and situation are unique, and personal loss and grief cannot be measured nor compared. A flexible and responsive approach to after-death care continues the support provided to families at a catastrophic point in their lives. When families are given time in a caring and non-judgmental environment as they begin to navigate the finality of never seeing their child again, they can have better grief outcomes. Upon reflection and given time, families talk to the positive experiences they carry from the after-death care provided in the hospice setting.