Children can be included when someone important to them is receiving end-of-life care, but they should be prepared for what they may see.

Before a visit, explain what the room and the person may look like. Photos or other visuals can help a child know what to expect.

If their special person has an IV, breathing tube, or another piece of medical equipment, explain what it is and what it is doing before the visit.

If someone has a disease such as cancer, it may also be important to explain that the child cannot catch it the way they might catch a cold or the flu.

When appropriate, children can be told that the illness is causing the person’s body to stop working and that they will die.