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Paediatric respite care: a literature review from New Zealand
M Horsburgh1, A Trenholme, T Huckle
1Division of Nursing, University of Auckland, PO Box 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. m.horsburgh@auckland.ac.nz
Insights
Respite care for terminally ill children is crucial but often uncoordinated and limited. Enhancing these services requires greater cultural sensitivity and further research for better family support.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Family Support Services
Background:
- Respite care is essential for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
- Existing literature and policy documents highlight the need for improved respite services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and evaluate current respite provision for terminally ill children and their families.
- To identify gaps and suggest improvements in pediatric respite care services.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of international and New Zealand literature.
- Analysis of policy documents and relevant reports.
Main Results:
- Current respite services are often uncoordinated, lack cultural sensitivity, and are insufficient.
- Significant gaps exist in meeting the needs of dying children and their families.
Conclusions:
- Paediatric respite care requires substantial improvement.
- Further research is needed to develop more appropriate and effective respite services.
Abstract:
This paper reviews relevant international and New Zealand literature, policy documents and reports on respite provision for children who are dying and their families. The literature describes why respite care for children is necessary, and evaluates present respite services in accord with recent reports and literature. The service provisions needed for dying children and their families are explored, including suggestions for the improvement of services and future research. The literature reveals that, although respite care for terminally ill children and their families is necessary, service provisions are uncoordinated, not always culturally sensitive and very limited for children and their families. Improvement in paediatric respite services is necessary and research needs to be conducted in this area to facilitate the development of more appropriate respite services for children and their families.