I have just been contacted by our Palliative Care NP asking if we can start some type of comfort care cart for patients who have recently been placed on "comfort care" in our hospital.  She said it is done elsewhere and I'm trying to get an idea of what others have done. She mentioned offering family members a blanket (?) or plaster cast kit (for loved ones hands?) and let them choose that or something else off the cart.  

Does anyone out there do this in any form?  Do the volunteers make the blankets or what else is provided on this cart?  I'm trying to understand what is needed and see if volunteer services can assist with that need.  

Thank you in advance for your help.

Patty

We have a comfort cart that has multiple items kept on it including personal hygiene items, crafting and drawing items, memory containers, disposable cameras, letter writing supplies, model magic to make hand models for the patient's family, and some stationary items. 

If you would like to email me, I would be happy to send you a full list that is used for our cart. My email is: aschoet@med.umich.edu

I hope this helps.  Have a great weekend!

Amanda Schoettinger

Cindy, I'm still working to get this up and running.  I've received a list from someone and have been copying it for our cart. I have obtained funds for the cart and all items on it and have begun stocking it. We have not yet put the cart in use.  Some of the items I've purchased so far include plaster casting kits, small glass jars with cork stoppers (hair clippings), a few pamphlets talking about Palliative Care, coloring books, crayons, colored paper, scissors, glue, pens, hand gel, hand cream, chapstick, mints, hand-made quilts, hand-made memory pillows, adult puzzle books, and journal booklets. I'm still working on some things and have not yet secured any volunteers to manage the cart.

Patty