How To Help A Child Or Youth That Is Dying: Child Has Terminal Illness
This is often emotionally easier on children or youth than their families. Without support (emotional, physical, spiritual), families can disintegrate, making the child or youth’s passing even more traumatic on everyone.
First, We Would Investigate |
Second, We Would Investigate |
For Long Term Support |
For the child or youth and for the family:
|
For the child or youth and for the family:
|
For the child or youth and for the family:
|
On Our Own We Would Try: • Pets • Bedtime Stories and Chats • Wholesome Pleasures • Back Rubs and Foot Massages • Replace sodas, juices, sugars, fats, fast foods with water, veggies, whole grains, nuts, protein, fruit, slow food • Nature • Less or No TV, Movies, Video/Computer Games |
For Parents: • Try to arrange for at-home care. Parents need rest and support. When possible, seek and use local children or youth hospices which can give specialist and respite care for caregivers. • Marriages get stressed and parental depression is common, so get support from other people, family members and parents in the same situation. • Be choosy with whom you spend time. Pick people who can help you feel relaxed. • Find family structures and methods that fit the child or youth and you. • Let the child or youth know you will be okay when they are gone. Talk about what is happening. • Be patient and kind with the child or youth and yourself. |
Check out: www.chionline.org, for children’s hospice and end of life care information; www.traumasomaom/index.shtml (very technical); www.acestudy.org. |