Paediatric palliative care in the home

Advantages of providing palliative care in the home include privacy and the opportunity for siblings and extended family to feel more involved. The child can be nursed in a familiar environment and be surrounded by the possessions and pets they love. Parents may feel a greater sense of control in their home and may feel less judged by others. Spiritual and cultural needs may be more easily addressed at homeCollins, 1998.

Even in children, most symptoms (including severe pain, seizures and respiratory distress) can be adequately managed in the home environment with appropriate planning, expertise and support.

Parents generally assume the role of principal carers and although they often view this as a positive experience, the burden of providing 24-hour care at home can be significant; for information about the caregiving role, see Support for carers in palliative care. Consider opportunities for paediatric respite care.