NPHI Releases Pediatric Hospice Care Guide

WASHINGTON—The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), an organization that represents nonprofit, community-based hospice and advanced illness care providers, released the Advanced Pediatric Care Patient & Caregiver Guide—a free national resource created by pediatric hospice and palliative care experts from nonprofit providers across the country.

The Advanced Pediatric Care Patient & Caregiver Guide was created to help ease burdens for families caring for children with serious illnesses by providing reliable information and practical resources families can turn to throughout their child’s care journey.

“No family ever wants to imagine their child facing a serious or life-limiting illness,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, founder and CEO of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation. “But when the unimaginable does happen, families deserve the very best care, guidance and support available.”

The guide includes practical information on:

• Understanding pediatric palliative care and hospice care
• Managing symptoms and improving comfort
• Supporting a child’s emotional and developmental needs
• Caring for parents, siblings and other caregivers
• Communicating with children about illness
• Navigating difficult decisions and accessing additional support

“Every child deserves as much comfort, joy and quality of life as possible, regardless of diagnosis,” said Cameron Muir, chief medical and innovation officer at NPHI. “Families should never have to navigate a serious childhood illness without trusted guidance. This guide helps parents understand what pediatric palliative and hospice care can offer, empowers them to make informed decisions and reminds them they are never alone.”

The guide is available free of charge at nphihealth.org/pediatric.