Pediatric Palliative Care - Essay Example

Pediatric Palliative Care Pediatric Palliative Care Palliative care for children is one of the most of emotionally connected professional roles in the medical field. This is due to the nature of children and the emotional trauma that is also experienced by the parents. Not all children have the capability of fully recovering from certain terminal pathologies and in some o the cases these diseases are progressive and continue to worsen with time which further increases the emotional burden on the family of the child, the nurse and also the affected infant. Another factor that makes the issue difficult is the fact that death is not a common trait among children with only 50 000 deaths out of 2.5 million being infants. In these instances where the ability to cure the child is negated the aim of intervention is directed towards improving and increasing the child’s level of comfort both emotionally and physically. For these purposes organizations for services such as palliative pediatric care and pediatric hospice have emerged. However, the most difficult period is when the child eventually dies and organizations which provide support are essential in this period. One such organization is The Compassionate Friends which will be discussed in this paper. The Compassionate Friends is located at Scripps Mende Well-Being Clinic, 4305 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92122. This organization has 650 chapters and these can be located in any of the 50 states. The San Diego chapter meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm. The organization also has branches in Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington DC. It is a nonprofit, national and self help support organization. The organization was founded by Simon Stephens and is aimed at providing hope to families whose children have died from any cause. The organization provides a multi spherical support system to these families which include several support groups and communities of different individuals who may be affected by the death of the child. Apart from support the organization provides families with information that will help them during their period of grief. The Mission statement of the hospital is “When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family (adopted 2-25-2012)”. As mentioned above the services of the organization are provided to families whose children have died. The main aim of the organization remains the same since its foundation and involves supporting and bringing together grieving families. These support groups are not restricted to direct family members but extend to other relatives and close family friends. Anyone who walks through the door of the chapter will be assisted. The facility that is utilized for the meetings is the north western corner of the University Town Center. The building is in a safe location and can be accessed through the stairs or using an elevator. The building is not new but is very comfortable and well maintained. The location is surrounded by trees and flowers which gives it a natural and welcoming appearance. The building is easily located and the grieving family members have easy access to the entrances. The building also has several fire precautions and has an emergency plan in case of earthquakes which include several easily accessible exits. The size of the building is also convenient as it is not so big making it easier to move around. The location of the building is also transport friendly In addition there is also free parking at the facility. The weather in this area also makes it comfortable and the natural surroundings are useful for outdoor walking and interaction. The organization is a self help support group and does not offer any specified professional services at the site of meeting. The organization is for connecting family members who are experiencing the same emotional trauma and can empathize with each other making them more positioned to give advice. Each member shares his or her insight with other members as the organization acknowledges the fact that people are different and each person can be a specialist helper in his or her own way. The organization has created a system where by the members are not financially burdened by the assistance they receive. In addition, each person may have occupational commitments hence the meeting schedule is once a week making it less intrusive into the members’ working hours. Issues that individuals in these groups suffer from include depression and guilt. These factors are relieved more easily by relations with other people in the same position. In addition, these group settings also make it less likely that an individual is pushed beyond his or her limits. The organization also tries to ensure that each member is allowed to grieve in his or her own time without being succumbed to unnecessary pressure. This group also makes the members feel less vulnerable and reducing the amount of social isolation they might otherwise put themselves through. The group has several ways which it uses to communicate with the community. The primary method which is utilized is the local chapter and its members who often inform their friends about the organization. The Compassionate Friends organization also conducts several conferences which it utilizes to educate and inform others about its activities. Another mode of communication is through different social sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The organization also has a website which contains all its information and ways buy which people and contact and help the needy. To attain information from about The Compassionate Friends organization, one can access their website, email the hospital, make a phone call or ask members of the community who have been to this hospital. One can also access information on community support of the same nature and compare with other organizations. There is also a page on feedback from past and current members and this can be useful in determining the services given by the organization. The organization can improve its program by introducing different professionals such as psychologists at the meetings. They can assist in giving a professional viewpoint on each of the family members. Increasing the number of staff members will also be useful in ensuring that the members have the best level of assistance. The organization can also create more community events that will help increase awareness. The organization should also make more advertisement for volunteers. The groups can also be made smaller to ensure that the members become closer to each other and are at the same level of grief. Read More