Mobile Outreach Art Therapy Services for Critically and Terminally ill Children
Terminally ill children deserve the same quality of life as healthy children. The time that these children have left to enjoy is precious and, when possible, should not be confined to an Intensive Care Unit. To make the lives of these children and their families as comfortable as possible, The Children’s Hospice Lighthouse Charity Foundation provides terminally-ill children with the necessary care in their homes.
Although there are benefits to living at home, some health conditions can make it difficult to get out of the house. Being isolated by their illness often makes children lonely and depressed.
Since September 2020, we've been funding an in-house Art Therapy Room at The Lighthouse Hospice, developed alongside our partner, Centre for Psychology and Art Therapy ‘SAMO’. The art therapy project has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both patients and staff:
“As a result of the Art therapy sessions, children show more interest in the basic creative activities, and they are much more relaxed in their communication.”
After seeing the difference that art therapy has made in the hospice, we wanted to ensure that children receiving care at home could access the same opportunities.
As of March 2021, an innovative Mobile Art Therapy Service will support the mental wellbeing of terminally-ill children and young people receiving care at home. The service will provide escapism from the monotony of everyday life receiving at-home care.
With our help, 30 home-bound children and their families will participate in art therapy with specialists of Studio ‘SAMO’. Each patient and family will engage in a course of 10-12 weekly sessions.