Types of Hospice Care
At Canuck Place:
Four different types of care are available:
1. Symptom management :
- The child can be admitted to the hospice when symptoms are affecting the child's quality of life, become challenging or are difficult to control at home.
- Closely observation is done by nurses.
- Drug therapy or modifications are done as needed according to the child symptoms and response.
2. Transition care:
- This is an intermediate step between the hospital and home. It is for children who have been hospitalized for long periods of time and the parents may require some education about their child's new medical issues or procedures.
- One clear example of transition care could be:
A 5 month old baby boy who has been admitted in the NICU since birth due to multiple medical problems as muscular hypotonia, seizure disorder, episodes of cyanosis, gastroesophagical reflux disease, gastrostomy tube and global developmental delay. According to the neonatology team the baby’s is clinically stable for going home. The parents have been closely involved on his care, however they don’t feel enough confidence managing the seizures, cyanosis episodes and the gastrostomy tube care. To educate the parents and coordinate the community resources will prolong his admission at the hospital. A consultation to Canuck Place is requested and an admission for transition care is set for complete his discharge plan. At the hospice the parents obtain support from nurses and doctors, they gained confidence and finally they felt more comfortable going home.
3. Respite and family care:
- Knowing the high prevalence of caregiver burden, the program facilitates a certain amount of time every year for 24 hour nursing care at the hospice.
- The family is able to have a “respite” and even plan some time off for themselves.
- If required counseling support can be given to parents and siblings.
- During respite this admissions the staff members have a chance to meet the child, the family and become familiar with the child’s medical issues.
4. End of life care:
- When the child’s death is approaching, care is focused on symptom management, comfort care and providing support for the family.
- An emergency admission to Canuck Place can be planned at any time according to the child and family needs.
- Communication between patients, families, and physicians about goals of care and team work is transcendental in this stage.
As an Outpatient:
For outpatient follow up, the family can access Canuck Place services by different ways:
- By phone contact 24 hours per day.
- The child can be seen in the Madison Clinic at the Ambulatory Care Building at BCCH. This clinic provides ongoing assessment, management and symptom follow up, parental education and emotional support.
- Canuck Place team can meet the child and the parents during the routine scheduled appointments at BCCH as needed.
