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Assessment of eating and drinking in a child with a gastrostomy
1Children's Trust, Tadworth Court, Tadworth, Surrey.
Insights
Comprehensive assessment is crucial for children with complex healthcare needs during respite care. This includes evaluating eating and drinking habits to ensure their well-being when parents are absent.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Children with complex healthcare needs require comprehensive assessments during short-term respite care.
- Holistic assessment is vital for maintaining and advancing child well-being in parental absence.
- Eating and drinking are key components of a child's overall care plan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of a full and comprehensive assessment for children with complex healthcare needs during respite care.
- To discuss the challenges and considerations in assessing eating and drinking as part of a holistic approach.
- To emphasize the pivotal role of parents in the assessment process.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an holistic assessment approach at The Children's Trust.
- Focused on the component of eating and drinking within the broader care needs.
- Acknowledged the increasing diversity of gastrostomy devices, feed products, and feeding regimens.
Main Results:
- The assessment tool balances a holistic view with the need to document complex care needs in manageable sections.
- Recognized the tension between comprehensive care and the practicalities of documentation.
- Highlighted the essential contribution of parents to the success of the assessment.
Conclusions:
- A thorough assessment is indispensable for ensuring the well-being of children with complex needs during respite care.
- The assessment process must adapt to the increasing variety of feeding support methods.
- Parental involvement is fundamental for effective and successful child welfare assessments.
Abstract:
During periods of short-term (respite) care a full and comprehensive assessment is essential if the wellbeing of a child with complex healthcare needs is to be maintained or advanced in the parents' absence. Eating and drinking is just one component of an holistic assessment carried out at The Children's Trust in Tadworth. There is an increasing use of different gastrostomy devices, feed products and regimes to meet the individual needs of a child and his/her family. The assessment tool used reflects the tension of using an holistic approach while trying to unravel or breakdown complex care needs into manageable 'chunks' for documentation purposes. The role of the parents is pivotal in ensuring the success of the assessment process.