Care and Educational Activities of the Podkarpackie Hospice for Children Foundation in 2006-2021. Selected Examples

Introduction: The first hospice was established in 1967 by Cicely Saunders. Another important event was the establishment of a day centre for terminally ill patients in Sheffield at St Luke’s Hospice. In Poland, hospice care was developed on the initiative of Hanna Chrzanowska. A special type of this institution are children’s hospices. One of them is the Podkarpackie Hospice for Children Foundation, established in 2006. Research Aim: The aim of the research was to present the history of the establishment and development of the Podkarpackie Hospice for Children Foundation, as well as analyse examples of patient care and educational activities undertaken by the management, employees and teachers cooperating with the Foundation in the period 2006–2021. The methodology used involved a critical analysis of documents and source materials and a review of the literature on hospice care. Evidence-based Facts: Two periods can be identified in the history of the Podkarpackie Hospice for Children Foundation between 2006 and 2021. From 2006 to 2011, patient care was provided under the at-home hospice care system. Simultaneously, efforts were undertaken to organise a separate location to expand the assistance provided, which resulted in the establishment of an in-patient hospice in 2011, which implements a broader range of tasks of the Foundation, including Perinatal Hospice, which was created in response to public demand. Summary: Patient care and educational activity of the Foundation is carried out through its individual units, including the at-home, in-patient and perinatal hospice, as well as the regional care and therapy centre “Tęczowy Domek”, which implement the goals and tasks of the Foundation. In addition, the educational activity of the Volunteer Centre helps to breaking down stereotypes related to hospices.