Meeting the Bereavement Needs of Kids in Patient/Families—Not Just Playing Around

SUMMARY

Children grieve differently than adults. Although the unit of care in hospice is the patient and family, emphasis is often on the grown members of the family and the anticipatory grief and bereavement needs of children and adolescents are sometimes not met adequately. In this paper, hands-on strategies for working with children both before and after a significant death are presented, as well as appropriate context information on the grieving process for youth under age 18. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: [email protected]]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kathleen Muleady Seager

Kathleen Muleady Seager, MA, is currently affiliated with Teleios Counseling Services, Cedar Falls, IA. Kate has been affiliated with Cedar Valley Hospice and previously held the positions of Counselor and Coordinator of Grief Support Services there. Kate holds a masters degree in counseling and is a Fellow and Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists.

Susan C. Spencer

Susan C. Spencer, BSW, MEd, is Youth Services Specialist with Cedar Valley Hospice, Waterloo, IA. Susan coordinates the Youth Support Services and Katie and Quincy Koala Programs and provides resources and consultation to staff and the community regarding the grief related needs of youth under 18. Susan also provides counseling and play therapy to children dealing with serious or terminal illness or in grief.