Cork hospital introduces new supports for children experiencing the death of a loved one
Hospital Of The University New Of End Packs O’neill, Foundation, Kids' Darragh Coordinator, Edel And Care Executive Micheál Kane Life Mercy With Chief Pictures: Sheridan,
Children's packs offering comfort and support to children experiencing the death of a loved one in hospital have been introduced at the Mercy in Cork.
The items, funded by the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, offer a selection of age-appropriate toys and activities for the child to support their wellbeing as they navigate the grieving process.
Mercy University Hospital end-of-life care coordinator Edel O’Neill said the idea for the bundles stemmed from her own experience of working in paediatrics.
“We had situations when children would have come into the hospital and it would have been frightening for them and I would have brought items down to them and it just diffused the matter so easily,” she said.
Simple activities such as colouring, painting and creating handprints encouraged the children to feel more comfortable, allowing them to regulate their emotions.
The packs, which are believed to be the first of their kind in Cork, were launched on May 7.
With more than three-quarters of deaths happening in a healthcare setting, the activity pack aims to include children in the death, providing them with an outlet to channel their energy elsewhere.
It includes a string tote bag, with either a colouring book or notebook, colours, a toy, and individual coloured sheets which can be used for drawing, handprints, making cards, or writing a letter.
The packs aim to eliminate the taboo surrounding death.
The bag is non-branded, something the hospital was “very particular” about, so it can be utilised as a memory bag, brought throughout their life afterwards and used as a reminder of that particular experience.
“Children often struggle to know how to interact with someone who is dying. With the introduction of these age-appropriate Kids' Packs, our aim is to make the child feel comfortable in an unfamiliar situation and the hospital environment,” she added.
Although speaking about death is “never easy”, children may handle grief better when adults around them receive support, Ms O'Neill said.
"Our aim is to support adults providing the option for children to visit a loved one dying at the Mercy, by creating a safe environment for children to be present and comfortable.
"What really matters is the child’s experience and how they make sense of what is happening, and providing a memory for children to grow up knowing that they have been included."