What is palliative care?
“Palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions
is an active and total approach to care, embracing physical, emotional, social
and spiritual elements. It focuses on enhancement of quality of life for the
child and support for the family and includes the management of distressing
symptoms, provision of respite and care through (disease), death and
bereavement.”
British Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Association
for Children with Life-threatening Conditions and their Families
Palliative care at Children's Memorial Hospital
At Children's Memorial caring for our patients and families means addressing
more than their immediate medical needs. We believe that comprehensive care
includes addressing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of
the whole child and family. We developed our palliative care program, Bridges,
to help families cope with decisions and feelings accompanying major health
changes and challenging medical conditions.
Palliative care can assist families and their children who have complex or
life-threatening medical conditions with symptom management, care coordination
and help making decisions about treatment options and care. The Bridges team
focuses on controlling symptoms such as pain, nausea, itching, and fatigue, to
provide comfort for the patient, support for all family members and to enhance
the quality of life for the child, the family and other involved parties.
Our promise
We promise to support, educate, advocate and care for the entire family. We
will work with you to determine how, together, we can create the fullest life
possible for you and your child in order to maximize quality of life.
We promise to:
- Listen to you, your child, their siblings and other
family members
- Be honest with you
- Help your child live life to the fullest
- Support you through challenges and transitions
- Provide information and referrals for appropriate health care services or
community resources.