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Finding meaning when your child is seriously ill

Finding meaning when your child is seriously ill

When you care for a child with a life-threatening condition, your vision for the future for you and your family changes. It can take time and effort to find new meaning or purpose in your life. It's important to pay attention to this. If needed, you or someone else in your family can get help.

Finding meaning when your child is seriously ill
Betekenis
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What does meaning mean?

Meaning is about what gives your life meaning. It can be about what you value as a family, what gives you stability, and how you cope with uncertainty and loss. It involves questions like: What is important to me? What do I need to survive? What does this mean for me and my family? Why is this happening to us? What's next?

Voor wie?
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For whom is meaning important?

Finding meaning is important for everyone in and around the family: for parents, siblings, and everyone closely involved with the family. Each family member experiences the illness in their own way and has different questions and needs. Focusing on finding meaning helps create space for emotions, wishes, and concerns and can provide peace and direction during a difficult and confusing time. As a parent, you're often so busy caring for your child that you lose sight of your own needs. You're in survival mode and feel guilty about any caregiving needs or the burden of caring for yourself.


Zorg en werk
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Combining care and work

If you're dealing with childcare, it can be difficult to combine intensive caregiving duties with your job. Yet, at the same time, your work can also be fulfilling. As Karianne describes it in an episode of our podcast series "Tussen Ons" (Between Us) : "Since I have a sick child, I'm very rarely myself, except at work." Read more information, tips, and practical tools that can help you combine childcare and work .


Subsidieregeling
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Subsidy Scheme for Spiritual Care Impulse

Thanks to the Spiritual Care Impulse program, families can receive a subsidy to cover up to five consultations with a spiritual counselor. A spiritual counselor can help you cope with issues such as fear, hope, powerlessness, connection, or separation. The program allows you to receive support early on, even when there is still a lot of uncertainty about the course of the illness.

Who is the subsidy for?

Professionals and parents are increasingly applying for the subsidy. It's important to have insight into which families are eligible, the quality requirements for the professionals who support them, and how we can support as many families as possible. In short, the subsidy focuses on the following groups:

  • Children who have died (up to 2 years ago), we provide support to the entire family through the subsidy
  • Children with a life-shortening condition that will not get better, we support the entire family
  • Children of seriously ill parents ( KIEZO ) or parents who have died (up to 2 years ago), we only guide the children
Toolkit hulpverleners
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Toolkit voor zorgverleners  

In de kindzorg wordt steeds vaker gebruikgemaakt van hulpmiddelen die ouders, kinderen en professionals helpen om in gesprek te gaan over zingeving. De Connect toolkit is een praktische methode voor zorgverleners om betekenisvolle gesprekken te voeren. De materialen helpen om gevoelens, ervaringen en wensen van kinderen en ouders zichtbaar te maken. Dat kan rust geven en helpt om zorg beter af te stemmen op wat het gezin nodig heeft. 
 
Wil je contact met een geestelijk verzorger of een rouw- en verliesbegeleider? Neem dan contact op met de netwerkcoördinator van het Netwerk Integrale Kindzorg (NIK) in je regio. De coördinator kan je verder helpen. 

Ondersteuning

Behoefte aan ondersteuning? Neem dan contact op met de Netwerkcoördinator van het NIK in jouw regio

Incompany training:  

Wil jij de medewerkers van jouw zorgorganisatie op een praktijkgerichte manier kennis en vaardigheden met betrekking tot betekenisgeving en levensvragen bijbrengen? Dan is de incompany training Betekenisgeving binnen de kinderpalliatieve zorg een mooie training om aan te bieden. 



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Heb je nog vragen?

Neem dan contact op met:

Het Kenniscentrum Kinderpalliatieve Zorg