Skip to main content

National calendar

Supporting meaning in pediatric palliative care

Paying attention to meaning and meaning at the right time can offer many advantages.


When parents deal with a child who is seriously ill or dies, the future they saw for themselves and their child changes completely. Many questions arise that have to do with meaning. The CONNECT study *, in which insights were collected with experts and parents about the sense of purpose and meaning of parents who care for a child with a life-threatening illness, shows that it can offer parents advantages if you pay attention to this in time.

This is how it works:

  • Helping to fill in the period during and after their child's illness as valuable as possible.
  • Preventing parents from dropping out because they are no longer able to care for their child.
  • Preventing conflicts between parents or between parents and caregivers.

A role for healthcare professionals

It sometimes takes effort and time for parents to give new meaning to their changed lives. Parents are often so busy caring for their child that they lose sight of their own needs and are in survival mode. In addition, they often feel uncomfortable that they also have their own care needs or find the care difficult. Parents will therefore not often discuss meaning questions of their own accord. Care providers have the responsibility to assist the child and family in times where meaning is under pressure due to changing circumstances. Making sense is part of pediatric palliative care. The aim of this care is to offer children and their loved ones the best possible quality of life. And to relieve suffering of a physical, psychosocial and spiritual nature.

Information and manuals available

Within the CONNECT study, a toolkit has been developed with practical guidelines that care providers can use in the home situation to better recognize, acknowledge and discuss parental questions about meaning. And provide appropriate support where necessary. Meaning or life questions from parents often arise around a number of themes. An information brochure has also been developed to provide healthcare professionals with tools to recognize these in practice. These themes are further elaborated herein.

training

Do you want to delve further into meaning? Then it is possible to follow the Meaning in Pediatric Palliative Care training. During this training you will learn to gain insight into what meaning means. You are able to reflect on your own and others' meaning. You can have an exploratory conversation about this and know when a referral to a supportive healthcare professional is appropriate.

On April 6, 2023, no less than 22 professionals had an inspiring meeting, organized by NIK Limburg - Southeast Brabant. In this, trainers Esli Jongen and Sophie Albers provided tools for entering into a conversation with parents. A reaction from participant Hilde Wielders, nursing case manager KCT MUMC: 'I do a lot by feeling, but thanks to the tools of the trainers, I can enter into a conversation with parents with more confidence. Very valuable for my daily practice!'

Unknown-3
*The CONNECT study was carried out by Marije Brouwer, Marijanne Engel and Marijke Kars, Center of Expertise Palliative Care Utrecht, UMC Utrecht.

What is meaning making?

Meaning making is the process in which people give meaning to who they are, to their lives and to important events they experience. It involves questions such as: Who am I? What's important to me? What do I need to stay standing? Making meaning is woven into all the actions and decisions we make and the way we experience the world.


share this page

Might also be interesting


Back to news overview