children's hospice children's hospice a children's hospice is a hospice specifically designed to help children and young people who are not expected to reach adulthood with the emotional and physical challenges they face, and also to provide respite care for their families. demelza hospice care for children in kent, england. services a typical children's hospice service offers: specialist children's palliative care, respite care, emergency, and terminal care (this may be at the hospice or within the child's home) bereavement counselling and support, typically offered as individual home support, as well as groups and work with brothers or sisters information, advice and practical assistance 24-hour telephone support a system of contact or key workers who work with named children and families to ensure support is consistent and continued between visits physiotherapy and many complementary therapies music and play therapy activities for siblings. children's hospice services work with families from all faiths, cultures and ethnic backgrounds and respect the importance of religious customs and cultural needs that are essential to the daily lives of each family. many have a chaplain who is familiar with a variety of faiths and customs. each service is typically an independent charity which relies on public support to continue their work. children's hospice services are dedicated to improving the quality of life of children and young people who are not expected to live to reach adulthood and their families. they provide flexible, practical and free support at home and in the hospice to the entire family, often over many years and at any stage of the child's or young person's illness. this includes short breaks and daytime activities enabling families to get a rest; help with the control of pain or other distressing symptoms; and support for family members, including brothers and sisters. when the end of a child's life approaches, children's hospice services are there to provide end-of-life care and bereavement support for as long as it's needed, helping families and friends approach death with dignity and peace. united kingdom children's hospices helen house in oxfordshire was the world's first children's hospice. it opened in november 1982. helen house sprang from a friendship between sister frances dominica and the parents of a seriously ill little girl called helen, who lived at home with her family but required 24-hour care. the first children's hospice in scotland rachel house, run by children's hospice association scotland opened in march 1996. there are now over 40 operational children's hospice services open across the uk. children's hospice services in england receive an average of 5% government funding and rely heavily on public donations. united states children's hospices community hospice & palliative care logo with a pediatric care program called community pedscare