Treasure Weekend: supporting bereaved siblings

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Child Psychology
• Grief and Bereavement Studies

Background:

• Increasing recognition of the need to support bereaved siblings after the loss of a family member.
• Limited availability of specialized support services for children experiencing sibling bereavement.
• Children require similar coping support as parents following a devastating loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a children's hospice's approach to supporting bereaved siblings.
• To introduce the "Treasure Weekend" residential support program.
• To outline the rationale, aims, and experiential aspects of the program.

Main Methods:

• Description of a children's hospice's service delivery model.
• Facilitation of a residential support weekend for bereaved siblings.
• Focus on creating a safe space for sharing and mourning.

Main Results:

• The "Treasure Weekend" provides a structured opportunity for bereaved siblings to engage in the grieving process.
• The hospice successfully facilitated a specialized support service tailored to the needs of grieving children.
• The program addresses the gap in targeted support for sibling bereavement.

Conclusions:

• Children's hospices can play a crucial role in providing specialized support for bereaved siblings.
• Residential programs like the "Treasure Weekend" offer a valuable model for sibling bereavement care.
• Addressing the unique needs of bereaved siblings is essential in comprehensive palliative care.