Big Thoughts in Little Jars: Memory Days for Families Where a Child has Died

Abstract

The Life Force community paediatric palliative care team offers support to children and young people with complex health needs and their families. The team supports them during their end-of life period, as well as bereavement support after a child has died. This article discusses the development of Memory Days, a yearly event where a child or young person cared for by the team is remembered by their family. The article describes how these Memory Days are set up and facilitated and describes three of the specific memory activities the team has offered. These creative activities are completed in a group setting which affords families who can feel isolated through grief, the opportunity to connect with others and find solidarity. One of the families describes what the days mean to them.

Plain Language Summary

Memory Days are special events to remember children that have died. This paper describes how they were set up for a service in London that offers care to children with life-threatening conditions and their families. It talks about the rationale for these events and the background theory, as well as the process of running the events. The paper includes the views of a family who have attended the events.