Caring for Children Is Our Calling
Who We Are
Hands of Hope is South Carolina’s only statewide palliative and hospice provider with a dedicated pediatric team. We offer two home-based lines of service tailored to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the child and family managing a life-threatening illness. Our team provides resources and education to assist families in making informed decisions regarding the child’s care and quality of life. Services are available to any child living in South Carolina.
Our providers work closely with the referring medical provider to determine if palliative care or concurrent care hospice is the most appropriate service line for each child. Our unique model of care provides services that seek to prevent and relieve suffering, ensuring the highest possible quality of life. This support allows comfort and security to focus on what matters most to the child and family.
Customized Pediatric Care
Palliative Care
Pediatric palliative care is specialized medical care provided to children who are living with a life-threatening condition or a life-limiting illness. Palliative care is family-centered and focuses on discussing goals of care, symptom management, and offering support through the patient’s illness.
With palliative care,
you and your child can expect:
Scheduled visits with a medical provider
Nurse case management assistance for coordination of care and services
Consultation with a dietitian, spiritual counselor, and medical social worker as needed
Recommendations to your child’s medical providers to enhance his/her quality of life
Your Palliative Care Team
Medical Director
Medical Director
A concurrent care hospice and palliative care physician who also has training in pediatrics. Offers insight into the management of symptoms and guides the team in understanding the medical aspects of the child’s condition.
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
Provides home visits and makes recommendations for managing symptoms and for caring for the entire family.
Palliative Care Nurse Case Manager
Palliative Care Nurse Case Manager
Knowledgeable about resources within the hospital and community. Experienced in working with agencies providing children with equipment and therapies.
Resources, Education & Comfort
Concurrent Care Hospice
Under the Affordable Care Act, children with life-limiting illnesses can receive both curative and hospice care. This is called concurrent care. Concurrent care hospice allows pediatric patients, between birth and 21 years of age, to continue curative treatments alongside hospice services in efforts to assist patients in reaching goals of care while staying as comfortable as possible. Hands of Hope offers in-home support services while your child continues to receive all care from the current medical team.
With concurrent care
hospice, you and your
child can expect:
Scheduled visits with a medical provider and 24/7 physician on-call coverage
Nurse case management assistance for coordination of care
Skilled nursing visits
Social work, spiritual counselor, child life, and dietitian services
Multidisciplinary bereavement services
Your Care Team (Concurrent)
Physician
Physician
A pediatrician with additional training and experience in hospice and palliative care. Offers insight into the management of symptoms and guides the team in understanding the medical aspects of the child’s condition.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioner
Provide home visits, manage symptoms, discuss goals of care, provide support for educational planning, and ensure families are connected with community resources.
Child Life
Specialist
Child Life Specialist
Help children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events by utilizing play, preparation, education, and self-expressive activities to promote coping.
Nurse Case
Manager
Nurse Case Manager
A team of pediatric trained registered nurses who provide hands-on care or treatment to meet the needs of a child.
Spiritual Counselor
Spiritual Counselor
Provides nondenominational spiritual care based on the individual faith or spirituality of the patient or family.
Pediatric Medical
Social Worker
Pediatric Medical
Social Worker
Helps make decisions about available care options, provides support as you cope with your child’s illness, identifies available resource referrals, and assists with other emotional needs.
Nutritionist
/Dietitian
Nutritionist
/Dietitian
Works with physicians to alter a child’s nutrition based upon their medical condition and individual needs.
Philosophy of Care
Palliative care and hospice are specialties that provide care through comfort and support for patients and families facing complex or advanced illness. These services affirm life and neither hasten nor postpone death. Quality care is provided for pediatric patients from birth to 21 years of age and their families without regard to gender, nationality, race, creed, sexual orientation, or disability.
Refer a Patient
Hands of Hope is South Carolina’s only statewide palliative and concurrent care hospice provider with a dedicated pediatric team. We offer two lines of service tailored to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the child and family. Our providers work closely with you and your team to determine if palliative or concurrent care hospice is most appropriate for your patient.
Resources
A Special Experience
Camp Hands of Hope
Funded and operated by the Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation, Camp Hands of Hope is a program for South Carolina youth and their families who have experienced the loss of a loved one in the past three years. It’s a safe, welcoming environment for processing grief, learning to cope with feelings, and making new memories.
Hands of Hope is a proud partner of The Emerson Rose Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising support, awareness and funds for those affected by congenital heart defects (CHDs).