Objectives

Pediatric Palliative Cares Hospice and Diurnal Center

General Mission

The construction of the Pediatric Palliative Cares Hospice and Diurnal Center in Costa Rica, with the purpose of improving the quality of life of children and adolescents with a progressive, advanced disease without possibility of healing treatment and/or in a final stage; whose attention requires hospitalization in an environment that can offer them medical, infirmary, and psychological in an atmosphere that neither the traditional hospital nor their own home can offer. Also, the creation of a center of training for future Pediatric Palliative Care professionals from our country as well as from Latin America.

Specific Objectives

  • To cover the 100% of pediatric palliative cares necessities in Costa Rica.
  • To extend the program to chronic patients.
  • To create a program of national and international qualification that contemplates:
    • a. Postgraduate Studies with a multidisciplinary approach
    • b. Passant possibilities
    • c. Special courses
  • To turn the Pediatric Palliative Cares diurnal centers in models of assistance for palliative cares in Latin America.
  • To create a research center.

Philosophical Bases

  • The approach of the project is the quality of life of the patient and his/her family taking care of their physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
  • The rehabilitation of the patient and his/her family is a backbone activity to >maximize self-esteem, to diminish dependency and to promote confidence.
  • Palliative cares allow to offer a flexible attention in agreement with a plan based on the patient and his/her family needs, which can be reviewed and reframed periodically.
  • Diurnal centers are a rest source, a truce, a guideline for caretakers.
  • Through these places the continuity of the assistance is guaranteed.
  • Diurnal centers promote social interaction through communitarian support networks and eliminates the isolation of patients and his/her relatives.
  • It allows to monitor the patient's evolution and to take the necessary actions adjustments or procedures.
  • It provides a positive atmosphere change for the patient and for his/her family.
  • It is a way to canalize the community resources and an opportunity for the community to get involved through the voluntary services.
  • It allows to save resources since -through them- it is expected to reduce expenses by unnecessary hospitalizations and duplicity of services.
  • It makes possible to educate and train the family and health personnel in fundamental pediatric palliative care aspects.