Home care for dying children: a nursing model

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Home Healthcare Services

Background:

• Home care services offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based care for children with cancer.
• Financial and emotional burdens associated with pediatric cancer treatment are significant for families.
• Shifting terminal care to the home setting can impact family well-being and resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a model for delivering home care services to pediatric cancer patients and their families.
• To evaluate the feasibility and impact of home-based terminal care for children with cancer.
• To assess the financial implications of home care versus hospital care for end-of-life pediatric cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• A home care model was implemented at the Midwest Children's Cancer Center.
• Forty-two families with children receiving care at the center participated in the program.
• Data on patient demographics, diagnoses, family structures, and financial burdens were collected.

Main Results:

• The home care model was successfully implemented across diverse patient ages, diagnoses, and family structures.
• All participating families experienced reduced medical and nonmedical financial burdens when their child died at home.
• A majority of children with cancer at the center now receive terminal care at home, supported by nursing services.

Conclusions:

• Home care services provide a viable and beneficial model for pediatric cancer patients nearing end of life.
• Implementing home-based terminal care can significantly alleviate the financial strain on families caring for children with cancer.
• The shift towards home-based nursing support represents a significant change in terminal care delivery for pediatric oncology patients.