Cultural Considerations
To provide children and their families’ quality care in the face of serious illness, death and bereavement we need to have a curiosity about them and honour their cultural perspectives when communicating with them.
"Unconditional positive regard and curiosity"
~ The Paediatric Palliative Care Service SA
Cultural considerations are recognised and important in society. To provide children and their families’ quality care in the face of serious illness, death and bereavement we need to have a curiosity about them and honour their cultural perspectives when communicating with them.
Culturally sensitive care requires the professional to develop an understanding of a family's cultural needs and a willingness to ensure these needs are met. These needs may be outside formal cultural or religious expressions, be unique for each member of the family, and the spiritual experience of children may be different to that of adults.
Resources such as books, videos, poems, and prayers may provide opportunities for everyone to explore and express their needs and experiences.
For information concerning a specific culture, please see Grief resources. It is important to keep in mind that each person is an individual when considering their response to grief and support needs.