Architettura e design per l'hospice pediatrico - Architecture and design for the paediatric hospice

The approval of Law 38 on the 15th March 2010 established the legal right of pediatric patients in Italy to access to child-specific palliative care services which fully respect their particular needs. This significant result, validated in the recent agreement between central government, regions and autonomous provinces, creates the conditions for the development of Paediatric Palliative Care (PPC) networks in which the children’s hospice represents an important component. Pediatric hospices provide multifaceted care (medical, psychological, social and spiritual) and can also offer short-term support (respite care) as an alternative to home care when the clinical management of the child becomes too complex. It is an environment where many healthcare services aimed at ensuring "quality” and the most “normal” life possible for the young patients and their families are delivered. The complexity of the role of the hospice is equally reflected in a complex and articulated design where multiple and extremely diversified services necessitate interactive and flexible solutions related to different settings and contexts which clearly call for an interdisciplinary approach. This publication has made use of the valuable contribution of experts and institutions with extensive experience in this sector (both in Italy and abroad) in order to "comprehend” “recognize", "evaluate" and "recommend” common solutions. The ideas, suggestions and approaches included in this book are intended to provide useful tools for the planning and implementation of structures where the “quality of life” that we intend to guarantee is closely linked to "quality spaces”, that we hope will be provided in sufficient number to reply to reported needs. Since 1999, the effort to overcome barriers to the development of child-specific palliative care in our country has been immense. One of the foremost advocates in this this social battle has been the Fondazione Maruzza Lefebvre D'Ovidio Onlus (Maruzza Foundation) with whom the Ministry of Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2007. Consequently, the Maruzza Foundation played a decisive role in the drafting of the text of the Law 38/2010 and it is thanks to the Foundation’s continuous active support that this editorial project was made possible.