How to Help your Child with a Trach

Transcription

1 Procedure/Treatment/Home Care Si usted desea esta información en español, por favor pídasela a su enfermero o doctor. #1114 Name of Child: Date: How to Help your Child with a Trach Create a routine for care Children like to know what is going to happen, and when. Children feel best when they do the same things at the same times every day. They feel safe when they know what to expect. They need regular meals and sleep. Create a routine and stick to it. Before you do a treatment, do something calm and soothing with the child. After a treatment, do something fun together. Spend time with your child when you are not doing treatments. Help your child understand the trach Children do better when they understand. Children understand differently as they grow and develop. Use the treatments and supplies to teach your child. Infants Create a routine for care. Play with medical supplies. Help your child get comfortable with the care. Toddlers and preschoolers Use the term trach. Use simple words to: explain supplies and equipment. explain your child s symptoms. explain why your child needs care. 1 of 6

2 School-age children They are old enough to understand more. They may ask questions. Answer clearly and honestly. Prepare them by explaining what they will see, hear, feel, smell, or taste. Your child should know the name of each doctor, and what that doctor treats. Your child should know what each medicine is for, and why it is taken. Teenagers They are old enough to have a good understanding of their illness and its treatments. Help them become more involved in their own care. Have them make their own appointments with doctors. Give them time alone with the health care team to ask questions. Let them manage their own medicines and treatments. Check to make sure appointments are kept, medicines are taken, and treatments are done. Use play to help your child Play helps children to understand their world and work through feelings. A child s play can show us what is bothering the child. Help your child learn about treatments and supplies with play. Play during treatments Make treatments and care fun. Let your child play during treatments. Give your child a choice about what to play with during care. Make up games or songs that go with each treatment. Coping Children respond differently to illness as they grow and develop. It is not easy to live with a chronic illness. It is normal for children to struggle with treatment and care. Find out how your child feels. Listen to what your child says. Find out what your child struggles with. Repeat back important parts of what your child is telling you so your child knows you are listening. 2 of 6

3 Find out how you can best help your child. Perhaps you can change the care routine, give more information, or include play in treatments. If you want to learn more about how to help your child cope, ask a child life specialist. Live a full life A tracheostomy is only one part of your child s life. The rest of your child s life should be like that of any other child. Your child should have time with friends, and do things other children the same age do. Your child should have the same rules, limits, and responsibilities as other children the same age do. Brothers and sisters Spend time alone with each child in the family. Everyone in the family should know about tracheostomies. If your other children want to help, involve them in play and care. Young brothers and sisters should not be responsible for caring for the child with a trach on their own. Take care of yourself If you don t take care of yourself, it will be very hard to take care of everyone else. Take some time for yourself every day, even if it s only 30 minutes. During that time, do something you enjoy. If you have questions or concerns regarding how to best support your child, please ask your child life specialist. If you have any questions or concerns, p call your child s doctor or p call 3 of 6

4 Now that you ve read this: p Tell your nurse, child life specialist, or doctor how you will help your child and family live with the trach. (Check when done.) If you want to know more about child health and illness, visit our library at The Emily Center at Phoenix Children s Hospital 1919 East Thomas Road Phoenix, AZ Facebook: facebook.com/theemilycenter Pinterest: pinterest.com/emilycenter Disclaimer The information provided at this site is intended to be general information, and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to take the place of examination, treatment, or consultation with a physician. Phoenix Children s Hospital urges you to contact your physician with any questions you may have about a medical condition. Tuesday January 28, 2014 DRAFT to family review #1114 Written by Kelsie Hickman, LMSW, CCLS, CIMI Illustrated by Irene Takamizu 4 of 6

5 Si usted desea esta información en español, por favor pídasela a su enfermero o doctor. #1114 How to Help your Child with a Trach Name of Health Care Provider: Date returned: p db Family Review of Handout Health care providers: Please teach families with this handout. Families: Please let us know what you think of this handout. Would you say this handout is hard to read? p Yes p No easy to read? p Yes p No Please circle the parts of the handout that were hard to understand. Would you say this handout is interesting to read? p Yes p No Why or why not? Would you do anything differently after reading this handout? p Yes p No If yes, what? After reading this handout, do you have any questions about the subject? p Yes p No If yes, what? 5 of 6

6 Is there anything you don t like about the drawings? p Yes p No If yes, what? What changes would you make in this handout to make it better or easier to understand? Please return your review of this handout to your nurse or doctor or send it to the address below. The Emily Center Health Education Specialist Phoenix Children s Hospital 1919 East Thomas Road Phoenix, AZ Thank you for helping us! 6 of 6