Dying Matters Awareness Week 26′

One of the most challenging, but most important, parts of our role within Hospice at Home is talking with children, young people and their families about the final stages of life. For many families, even if these conversations have happened before, the reality can still feel far away or incredibly hard to take in. There is often still a small piece of hope – that something might change, or that a new treatment could appear.

In those moments, we speak with honesty and compassion. We take things at each family’s pace, making time for questions and offer as much support as they need. Our priority is to help every baby, child, or young person have a peaceful, pain-free and dignified death, surrounded by care and love.

After a child has died, we continue to support families, including through the use of our cooling blankets. Rainbows will soon also be using special Manaaki mats. These mats are filled with a dry-ice gel that freezes much colder than regular ice and stays cold for longer. This provides a safe, simple and effective way to care for a baby, child or young person after death. By keeping the body consistently cool, even when being held, it slows the natural changes that happen after death.

The Manaaki mats can give families a little more time together after death, before burial or cremation. We can support families to keep their baby, child or young person at home, or at Rainbows Hospice, for a period of time. This can mean more opportunities to hold their child, to be close, and to create precious memories that might not otherwise be possible.

Tracy Shearer – Lead Nurse Hospice at Home