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“ There is always rain around me.” Supporting Children with Seriously Ill Parents. Kathleen Brown, NP and Thuy Pham, MD Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Anna aged 7 when her dad died. Mrs. N’s Story. Does Tommy understand the concepts of death?. Losing a Parent by Age 15 in USA.
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“There is always rain around me.”Supporting Children with Seriously Ill Parents Kathleen Brown, NP and Thuy Pham, MD Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
0-2yr: Predominant Concepts of Death None However… • May sense that something is wrong • Acutely aware of loss and separation • Perceive others emotions, especially significant adults • Sensitive to changes in the schedule
0-2yr: Interventions • Provide maximal physical comfort • Familiar persons • Transitional objects (favorite toys) • Consistency • Use simple physical communication
>2-6yr: Predominant Concepts of Death • Believes death is temporary and reversible (like sleep) • Does not personalize death • Believes death can be caused by thoughts
True/False: Children need to understand and make sense of their experience in order to help them learn that dying and death are part of life.
True/False: Adults know better whether or not to allow a child to participate in funerals or other post-death rituals.