We Care for Children With Serious Medical Conditions
Pediatric Hospice Care
We know there is no better place for you and your child than to be at home, surrounded by the people and things your child loves. Our specialized team consists of pediatric providers (meet the team) who work in concert with the child’s primary care providers and specialists to ease symptoms, manage pain, and improve their life. The supportive services of our hospice team are available for any child facing a possibly life-limiting illness, including those children who continue to receive curative, disease-directed and life-extending treatment.
Pediatric concurrent care can begin at the time of diagnosis and be provided throughout treatment, until the final moments of life and beyond. The diagnoses for children we care for include diverse medical conditions such as cancer, heart conditions, chronic lung problems, neurological disorders, complications of prematurity, and much more.
Services include:
- Expert pain management
- Relief from other distressing symptoms
- In-person and telehealth visits, including remote monitoring
- Delivery of needed medications and supplies
- Home health aide, as needed
- Coordination with child’s primary medical team
- Spiritual and emotional support
- Medical social worker to assist with practical life issues and counseling
- 24/7 telephone and in-person support
- Support and coordination with child’s school
- Support for siblings, parents and extended family
- Child Life Specialist
- Expressive therapies (art, music, etc.)
- Trained volunteers providing companionship, complementary therapies, pet visitation, when available
- Grief and bereavement support
Insurance Coverage
Hospice service is an elected benefit of most insurance plans, including Medicare, Medi-Cal, Tricare and the VA. This coverage includes clinical staff visits, medications for symptom management and home care equipment and supplies related to the terminal illness. After meeting with you and discussing your goals, values and needs, we will verify your insurance benefits to determine your hospice coverage. If you do not have insurance, our social workers will help you and your family identify other funding options. Most insurance companies provide concurrent care for children including disease-directed treatment and simultaneous hospice services. No child is turned away who needs service.
Advance Care Planning
Advance Care Planning is making decisions about the care a person wants to receive when he or she is unable to communicate those wishes directly. If you are the parent or guardian of a child with a life-limiting medical condition, a conversation with your provider about advanced care planning will arm you with helpful information, allowing you to make the best choices for your child at every step of the way. Get ideas on how to facilitate this discussion here:
If you have questions about pediatric hospice care, contact us at 833.349.2056.