Hospice For Kids

Hospice For Kids Circle of Care

There’s no single playbook for supporting a child facing serious illness. Unity works closely with your child’s docter to understand the diagnosis. Then, we develop a plan of care based on your wishes and goals to ease your child’s symptoms and live as normally as possible...to just be a kid. It’s important to know that neither you nor your child is alone during this difficult journey. From 24-hour nurse and social worker access, to pain management, emotional support, and spiritual care, we meet the needs of your entire family. You'll have the peace of mind you need that you're doing everything possible for your child.

Unity Medical Doctor or Nurse Practitioner

Unity Medical Doctor or Nurse Practitioner oversees symptom management. As a member of your child's care team, their range of care includes:

• Maintains primary responsibility for your child's hospice care
• Manages symptoms and prescribes medication

Registered Nurse

Unity Registered Nurses provide clinical support to manage the physical symptoms of your child's illness, working with you and your family to develop a plan of care according to your child's unique needs, wishes and goals. As a member of your care team, their range of care includes:

• Educating about illness, disease process, physical care and the end-of-life process
• Collaborating with other Unity care team members to assess and manage your comfort and ensure needs are met
• Managing your child's medication while educating about potential side effects

Licensed Practical Nurse

Unity Licensed Practical Nurses provide extra nursing support, as needed, under the direction of your child's Registered Nurse to help manage physical symptoms and achieve your child's and family's goals. They provide care based on the needs of your child and family which may include:

• Caring for wounds
• Monitoring for changes in condition and comfort
• Assisting with appointment coordination and scheduling

Certified Nursing Assistant

Unity Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) provide basic care and assist with daily activities of living. Under the direction of your child's Registered Nurse, your CNA helps achieve your child's plan of care goals by assisting with the following:

• Compassionate Touch™
• Bathing, dressing, mouth care, skin care, grooming, including shaving and simple nail care
• Training on how to safely transfer, reposition, and use assistive equipment such as lift devices, walkers, and commodes
• Exercises to enhance range of motion

Social Worker

Unity Social Workers are specially trained staff who help your child and family address social, emotional and practical challenges that arise during care. They are dedicated to enhancing your child's overall wellbeing by offering emotional support, validation and encouragement while assessing, educating, advocating for and assisting your child and family. Unity Social Workers provide a wide range of support, resources and solutions including:

• Guidance in completing advance directives (guardianship, power of attorney for health care, do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, living wills, etc. to ensure wishes are documented, shared and followed.
• Assistance in exploring non-medical ways of relieving symptoms such as anxiety or sadness/depression

Chaplain

Unity Chaplains are specially trained staff who work as part of your child's hospice care team to meet the spiritual needs of your entire family. Unity recognizes everyone finds spiritual meaning, purpose and connectedness in unique ways. For some, this may be through beliefs, values, traditions and non-spiritual practices while others may find it through organized religion. Unity’s goal is to provide spiritual support in ways that are meaningful to your child and family. Based on request, Unity Chaplains are here to assist you and your child in the following ways:

• Guide conversations about end-of-life decisions, fear of dying,
• Connect or reconnect to a faith community
• Offer spiritual support while respecting personal beliefs

Grief Counselor

Unity Grief Counselor provide support to patients as well as their family and friends. As a member of your child's care team, their range of care includes:

• Provides individual counseling, as requested, after the death of your loved one
• Offers continued support through phone contacts
• Facilitates grief support groups
• Offers community memorial events

Volunteer

Volunteers may join your child’s and family’s care team based upon specific goals of care.

Your Child's Doctor and Specialist

Your child's primary care provider and Specialists work with Unity's Medical Team to oversee your child's symptom management. As a member of the care team, their range of care includes:

• Maintains primary responsibility for your child's care
• Manages symptoms and prescribes medication