A pediatric cancer nursing home offers a specialized, kid-friendly environment that provides young patients with the support they need to get through their illness. These facilities are not just a hospital wing; they are an entire home dedicated to pediatric cancer patients and their families. Creating an environment that meets the needs of these patients is challenging, but these homes address some important concerns when starting one.
These homes have many benefits over a traditional hospital setting, including lowering stress through positive activities and interactions, reducing risk of infection from exposure to other sick children, and easing financial strain by being covered by insurance as an in-patient facility instead of an out-of-network site. They may also help reduce the likelihood of readmission after discharge by offering transitional programs for inpatient care or monitoring closely for early warning signs of relapse.
How to Find a Children's Cancer Nursing Home
The first step in getting into a children’s cancer nursing home is finding one near you.
You can start by contacting the American Cancer Society to see if there are any in your area. You can also check with your local hospitals, pediatric oncology departments, or childhood disease foundations for similar organizations in your area. You could also ask your doctor for a referral or advice on the best place for your child.
You will likely have to wait until an opening becomes available. Some facilities only admit children with a limited time to live, while others take patients who are expected to stay for a longer period of time. You can also check with local child health organizations to see if they have any suggestions on pediatric cancer nursing homes in your area.
Children's Cancer Nursing Home
One of the available and open nursing homes for children with cancer:
Ronald McDonald House Houston
1907 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030
