Rainbow Kids Consultation Service for Children With Life-Threatening Illnesses
Rainbow Kids at Primary Children’s Hospital is a consultation service available for any child who is experiencing a life-threatening illness. The program is here to help both the child and family deal with feelings, symptoms, and concerns during a time that may be frightening, confusing and overwhelming.
Our team works with you to develop goals of care for your child given their medical condition, and those goals then help to shape your child’s treatment plan. Rainbow Kids’ mission is to help children with life-threatening illness and their families find comfort, support, and hope.
The Rainbow Kids interdisciplinary team includes social work, chaplaincy, child life specialists, music therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians. Team members have the specialized training, experience, compassion, and understanding to work with you and your physicians to support you and help you find the path that is best for your child and your family.
When your child is facing life-threatening illness, you may feel your life has been turned upside down. You may need special help with...
- Communication... Our team can help you and your child communicate with your health care team, family members, and your child’s siblings. We can assist in gathering and understanding the medical information you need to make the best decisions for your child and family.
- Spirituality... Our team is available to help your child and family explore the meaning of what is happening as you face the challenges of serious illness. We can also assist your family in connecting with your faith group, at your request.
- Emotions... Our team offers a safe setting to talk about some difficult thoughts and feelings your child and family may experience.
- Physical symptoms... Our team can help your health care team minimize pain and other uncomfortable physical symptoms, especially toward the end of life.
- Social connections... Our team can help you find ways to stay connected with your child’s school, neighbors, faith community, and friends.
As parents of a child with a life-threatening illness, you walk one of life’s most difficult paths. Your family does not have to find the way alone. The palliative care consultation service — Rainbow Kids — is here to offer comfort, advice, and support to your family each step of the way, wherever the path may lead.
This program is available to children and their families regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
You can reach us Monday through Friday at 801-662-3770
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Hospice
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice is a type of palliative care that provides services to improve the quality of life for the family and child. The word "hospice" literally means "a place of shelter." Hospice settings and home-hospice care provide extensive services to terminally ill children. Care usually involves relieving symptoms and providing psychological and social support for the patient and family.
To qualify for hospice care, a patient usually has a life expectancy of fewer than six months. The decision to pursue hospice care is a decision not to pursue aggressive treatment. In addition, hospice philosophy provides for the spiritual and cultural needs of the child and family. The goal of hospice care is to provide the terminally ill patient peace, comfort, and dignity.
Research has shown that hospice care at home helps a family as a whole. In addition to being in the comfort of the home, family members can also take an active role in providing supplemental, supportive care to the patient. Hospice often includes an extensive multidisciplinary team available for care, including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, home care aides, trained volunteers, pharmacists, and bereavement counselors.
What Services Does Hospice Care Provide?
Hospice services are similar to home health care services, but may also include:
- Spiritual services and religious needs
- 24-hour care or on-call care
- Respite care
- Bereavement support