Supporting the Child and the Family in Pediatric Palliative Care

Emphasising the importance of responding holistically to families and recognising their spiritual and cultural needs, this much-needed book will enable professionals to provide appropriate support and services to families at all stages of the child's illness and the bereavement. Reflecting on their wide experiences of working in palliative care, the contributors provide practical guidance on issues such as caring for the child's body after death and supporting parents in preparing for their child's funeral. They discuss the medical care and emotional and social support available to families if they choose to care for their child at home, and look at how siblings and extended family can also be supported. Exploring children's own responses to illness and loss, they suggest how parents and professionals can respond to questions about death and meet the emotional and cognitive needs of the life-limited child. This sensitive and practical book will be invaluable to nurses, paediatricians, bereavement counsellors, and all those caring for children who are seriously ill.