Cork's Mercy University Hospital Kids Packs helping children facing grief

THE Mercy University Hospital (MUH) in Cork has introduced Kids Packs to support children of families experiencing the end-of-life care of a loved one.

Recognising the importance of including children when someone close is dying, the Mercy University Hospital has introduced the new Kids Packs for children of families who find themselves in this difficult situation.

The Mercy highlighted the importance of healthcare professionals considering any child who may be affected by the death of a loved one and engaging with the family.

Each Kids Pack, funded by the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, comes in a string tote bag and contains an age-appropriate colouring book or notebook, colours, an age-appropriate toy, and individual coloured sheets which they may decide to use for drawing, hand prints, making cards, or writing a letter.

Struggle

End of Life Care Coordinator at Mercy University Hospital, Edel O’Neill, said: “Children often struggle to know how to interact with someone who is dying. With the introduction of these age-appropriate Kids Packs, our aim is to make the child feel comfortable in an unfamiliar situation and the hospital environment.”

Ms O’Neill highlighted how end-of-life care of a family member might have adults questioning whether children should be visiting their dying loved one in hospital out of concern for the child’s wellbeing.

“Talking to children about death is never easy, however, children may handle grief better when adults around them receive support,” she said.

“Our aim is to support adults providing the option for children to visit a loved one dying at the Mercy, by creating a safe environment for children to be present and comfortable.

“What really matters is the child’s experience and how they make sense of what is happening, and providing a memory for children to grow up knowing they were included.”

To coincide with the introduction of the Kids Packs at Mercy University Hospital Cork, the hospital is also hosting a ‘Lunch and Learn’ series to support healthcare staff when communicating with children and young adults when someone close is dying at the hospital.

For more information on the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and the dedicated Kids Packs, visit https://www.mercyhospitalfoundation.ie.