Read quick facts about Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care at Four Seasons below.
The Difference in Pediatric vs Adult Hospice and Palliative Care
Children’s needs in hospice and palliative care are different from those of adults. For example, children need smaller and specialized equipment to meet their needs. Currently, there are few to no places (depending on location) in Western North Carolina for children to receive this specialized care in their homes. As a result, they have to leave their community, home, and support network to receive treatment in other cities. Four Seasons’ goal is to provide specialized pediatric hospice and palliative care wherever a child calls home, allowing them to keep their routines and stay with their support network as they receive care. This ultimately helps to improve quality of life.
Another difference in pediatric care is that patients under 21 are allowed “Concurrent Care.” This means that even when insured by Medicaid or a children’s health insurance program, they can still receive disease-directed treatment while on hospice care. In adult care, patients are only eligible for hospice care when curative treatment has stopped.
How does Four Seasons help pediatric patients and families?
Four Seasons helps parents of children with serious illness navigate their care choices, coordinate with specialists, and help secure needed equipment and other resources. Additionally, Four Seasons provides emotional and spiritual support, not only for the patient, but also for their family. Four Seasons Grief Services’ program, Compass, also provides specialized grief support for children and teens.
Our team focuses on helping to relieve the emotional and physical challenges of serious illness so that families can focus on making memories and spending quality time with their children.
Learn more about Four Seasons Riversong program.
Our Approach to Care
Our care is “person-centered,” meaning that we ask what’s most important to you in your healthcare goals, wishes, and needs. What’s most important to you is the heart of your plan of care. We become advocates alongside you as you navigate the often complicated and overwhelming healthcare system, helping you to understand your options, communicating with providers, and ensuring your wishes are honored. Four Seasons further focuses on holistic care as we provide not only physical support for symptoms, but also spiritual and emotional support for both the patient and family.
Read a family story about our person-centered care.
Pay Sources of Care
Pediatric hospice and palliative care are typically covered by private insurance or Medicaid. Four Seasons also accepts private pay, and funding may be available for eligible families through the Four Seasons Foundation.
