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Quality of life care, also known as palliative care, supports children who have serious medical conditions. This page defines quality of life care for children who may have life-limiting or complex conditions.
What is quality of life care?
Palliative medicine, by definition, describes medical care focused on providing relief from symptoms, discomfort, or stress caused by a serious illness. Traditionally, this has meant supporting children who have cancer. But it’s also been estimated that, of the children who could benefit from palliative care services in the U.S., nearly half are living with neurological, degenerative, or genetic conditions.
A common misconception is that quality of life care is the same as hospice or end-of-life care. The truth is, palliative care can be appropriate at any stage of illness for patients of all ages. It can occur alongside all other medical care, including curative and life-prolonging treatments.
Quality of life care is designed to meet the ongoing needs of children who have long-term impairments or conditions such as:
Who benefits from quality of life care?
A palliative care consultation can be useful for a child or teen who:
- Experiences distressing physical symptoms, including recurring pain, respiratory distress or feeding difficulties
- Has new or chronic health concerns that require long-term management
- Shows symptoms of declining health
- Will likely face major care decisions in the months or years ahead
- Has been in the hospital for an extended period without clear goals for discharge
- Experiences multiple hospitalizations within six months
- Is living with, or has recently been diagnosed with, a life-limiting condition
- Has concerns related to physical, spiritual or emotional needs
Palliative treatment can also help families develop strategies for addressing medical crises, illnesses and interventions.
Quality of Life Care at Gillette Children's
When you work with the quality of life care team at Gillette Children’s, we consider your child’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs for a comprehensive treatment plan to help them enjoy life despite having life-limiting conditions.
A board-certified palliative medicine pediatrician leads the team, which also includes nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical pharmacists, and experts in areas like:
Holistic health and wellness describes health care that combines standard treatments—like medication and surgery—with other supportive therapies. The goal of holistic wellness is to improve overall well-being, reduce how much medication a person needs, and support recovery from complex medical conditions. These additional therapies don't replace standard medical treatment. Instead, they work alongside it as part of a patient's overall care.
Our team of pediatric psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers offer support to patients and their families who need help adjusting to and coping with the symptoms and effects that can accompany a complex diagnosis.
Our certified child life experts help your child feel at ease before and during medical appointments and hospital stays. These professionals combine knowledge of child development with experience working with children during some of the most difficult times in a child’s life. They are committed to the comfort and well-being of your child as they navigate care.
Spiritual care and support from a hospital chaplain can be a great comfort to those living with disabilities and/or complex medical conditions.
Chaplaincy services at Gillette Children’s are available to support the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of your family. We understand the ways in which cultural and religious values affect your child’s hospital stay and guide your health care decisions.
The information on this page is reviewed by Gillette Children's medical editors for general educational purposes.
